WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman announced this week the formation of a bipartisan leadership team to oversee the vetting of candidates for future judicial appointments to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a court that serves one of the nation’s most populous and legally complex regions.
Andy Reilly and Deborah Willig were named co-chairs of the judicial selection commission, which will review applications and guide the candidate evaluation process before recommendations are forwarded for consideration. The commission plays a central role in shaping the federal judiciary by identifying nominees with the experience, temperament, and integrity required for lifetime appointments.
McCormick said the selection process must focus on legal excellence and fidelity to constitutional principles, emphasizing the importance of appointing judges who can apply the law fairly and competently. Fetterman highlighted the co-chairs’ longstanding leadership within the Philadelphia legal community, saying their experience positions them well to help identify candidates who reflect and serve the diverse communities of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Reilly, of counsel to the Pennsylvania-based law firm Stevens & Lee, brings decades of experience advising public and private sector clients on government relations, regulatory matters, litigation, and complex business transactions. His public service background includes work with municipal entities, participation on federal and state judicial and disciplinary panels, and leadership of a U.S. Senate–appointed commission responsible for vetting candidates for senior federal law enforcement positions.
Willig is a managing partner at Willig, Williams & Davidson and a nationally recognized figure in labor relations and employment law. With more than 40 years of experience, she has represented unions across the public and private sectors and played a key role in major collective bargaining negotiations. She also made history as the first female chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association and has received numerous honors for her advocacy and leadership in the legal profession.
Applications for consideration for judicial appointments to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania opened September 30 and must be submitted by December 31, 2025. The commission is expected to begin its review process shortly after the deadline, setting the stage for recommendations that could shape the region’s federal bench for decades to come.
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