Thomas I. Vanaskie

Thomas Ignatius Vanaskie (born November 11, 1953) is a former United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and former judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Early life and education

Vanaskie was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College in 1975 and earned a Juris Doctor from Dickinson School of Law in 1978. He was a law clerk for Judge William Joseph Nealon Jr. of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1980.

Career

Vanaskie worked in private legal practice in Scranton, Pennsylvania from 1980 to 1994. On November 5, 2009, Vanaskie's nomination was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was reported to the full Senate by the committee on December 3, 2009. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on Vanaskie's nomination on April 15, 2010. The Senate confirmed Vanaskie on April 21, 2010, by a 77–20 vote. He received his judicial commission on April 26, 2010. Vanaskie assumed senior status on November 30, 2018. He retired from active service on January 2, 2019.