WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the confirmations of Judge Robert Colville to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Karen Marston and John Gallagher to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) released the following statements Thursday:

“I am pleased the Senate confirmed Judge Robert Colville, Karen Marston, and John Gallagher to the federal bench in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Toomey. “They are remarkably experienced attorneys who I am confident will serve with fairness and integrity. I am especially pleased that John Gallagher will fill a vacant seat in Allentown.”

“I am pleased that the Senate confirmed three more federal judges to the district courts in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Casey. “Nominated by both President Obama and President Trump, Judge Rob Colville brings to the federal bench two decades of distinguished service on the Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh. I am pleased that the Senate has finally confirmed his nomination. Karen Marston has served her communities admirably as a 5th grade school teacher, law professor and federal prosecutor. John Gallagher has dedicated his career to public service and law enforcement, including as a prosecutor and a police officer. These nominees bring impressive legal experience and a diversity of perspectives that will serve them well on the federal bench. They have the character, intellect and independence to serve fairly and impartially on the federal bench.”

Since 2011, Senators Toomey and Casey have worked together, in a bipartisan fashion, to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. Together they have now vetted, recommended, and confirmed 27 Federal District Court Judges for Pennsylvania. Only two states — New York and Texas — have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during this time.

Robert Colville is a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, where he currently presides over a civil litigation calendar, including complex commercial litigation matters. Prior to joining the bench in 2000, Judge Colville practiced at Piertragallo, Bosick & Gordon, where he handled all manner of civil litigation, including products liability and insurance defense cases.

Karen Marston serves as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she is Chief of the Office’s Narcotics and Organized Crime section. Ms. Marston previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, receiving the Department of Justice Director’s Award in 2002. Ms. Marston has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Ms.

John Gallagher is an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where he is the Chief of the Allentown Branch Office. Before joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Gallagher held leadership positions in both the Miami and Philadelphia Police Departments and also served as a New York City Police Officer from 1989 to 1994. Mr. Gallagher was also a White House Fellow in the Department of Justice from 2000 to 2001, serving as Counsel to Attorneys General Janet Reno and John Ashcroft. Mr. Gallagher earned his B.S. from Long Island University and his J.D. from New York Law School.