Karoline Mehalchick: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American judge (born 1976)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Judge Karoline Mehalchick.png

| office = Judge of the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]]

| term_start = February 5, 2024

| term_end1 = February 5, 2024

| term_end2 = February 5, 2024

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1976}}

| birth_place = [[Berlin, Vermont]], U.S.

| parents =

| spouse = Michael Flynn (2005–present)<ref name="Scranton-Times-Tribune-07-10-05" />

| education = [[Pennsylvania State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Tulane Law School|Tulane University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])

'''Karoline Mehalchick''' (born 1976)<ref name="Questionnaire">{{Cite web |title=Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/mehalchick_sjq.pdf |access-date=July 25, 2023 |publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary}}</ref> is an American lawyer who has served as a [[United States federal judge|United States district judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]] since 2024. She previously

served as the [[United States magistrate judge|chief magistrate judge]] of the same court from 2021 to 2024 as well as a magistrate judge of the same court from 2013 to 2024.

==Early life and education==

Mehalchick is a Vermont native, and the daughter of George and Rita Mehalchick of [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]]. Her father is an attorney with the Lehnahan & Dempsey law firm.<ref name="Scranton-Times-Tribune-07-10-05">{{Cite news |date=July 10, 2005 |title=Mrs. Michael Flynn |page=F6 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-mrs-michael-flynn/127534119/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Times2005-05-22">{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2005 |title=Karoline Mehalchick |page=F6 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune|The Sunday Times]] |publication-place=Scranton, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-karoline-mehalchick/127533981/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Nissley-2006-06-19" />

Mehalchick is a graduate of [[Scranton High School (Pennsylvania)|Scranton High School]]<ref name="Times2005-05-222">{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2005 |title=Karoline Mehalchick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-karoline-mehalchick/127533981/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune|The Sunday Times]] |page=F6 |publication-place=Scranton, Pennsylvania |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and received a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in geoscience from the [[Schreyer Honors College]] of [[Pennsylvania State University]] in 1998. She then received a [[Juris Doctor]] from [[Tulane Law School]] in 2001.<ref name="Nissley-2006-06-19" /><ref name="FedBar">{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Hon. Karoline Mehalchick |url=https://www.fedbar.org/directory/hon-karoline-mehalchick/ |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=Federal Bar Association |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="OPR">{{Cite web |title=Karoline Mehalchick {{!}} Oliver Price & Rhodes Attorneys at Law |url=https://www.oprlaw.com/Attorneys/Karoline-Mehalchick |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=www.oprlaw.com}}</ref>

==Career==

From 2001 to 2002, Mehalchick served as a [[law clerk]] for Judge Trish Corbett on the [[Pennsylvania courts of common pleas|Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas]]. In 2006, she was named Pennsylvania's best young lawyer by the [[Pennsylvania Bar Association]].<ref name="Nissley-2006-06-19">{{Cite news |last=Nissley |first=Erin L. |date=June 19, 2006 |title='Best' young lawyer returns to her roots |page=A5 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-best-young-lawyer-re/127534821/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> That same year, she was the recipient of the [[Pennsylvania Bar Association]]'s Michael K. Smith Excellence in Service Award.<ref name="Namedropper">{{Cite news |date=June 3, 2006 |title=Namedropper |page=A2 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-namedropper/127534657/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 11, 2006 |title=Clarks Summit lawyer earns award |page=B7 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune|The Sunday Times]] |publication-place=Scranton, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-clarks-summit-lawyer-e/127534730/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

From 2002 to 2007, she was an associate at the law firm Oliver, Price & Rhodes in [[Clarks Summit]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mates |first=Rich |date=February 19, 2004 |title=Ownership of locomotive in court fight |page=A5 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-ownership-of-locomotive-in-c/127534258/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Haggerty |first=James |date=June 2, 2005 |title=Locomotive Suit Still on Track |pages=3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-locomotive-suit-still/127534482/ 9] |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune/59894611/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and served as partner from 2008 to 2013.<ref name="Nissley-2006-06-19" /><ref name="WHBio">{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Names Thirty-Fifth Round of Judicial Nominees and One New Nominee to Serve as U.S. Attorney |date=June 28, 2023 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/28/president-biden-names-thirty-fifth-round-of-judicial-nominees-and-one-new-nominee-to-serve-as-u-s-attorney/ |access-date=June 28, 2023}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 24, 2011 |title=Oliver, Price & Rhodes |page=H2 |work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-oliver-price-rhodes/127534578/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Federal judicial service===

Mehalchick was appointed as a [[United States magistrate judge]] on July 15, 2013.<ref name="FedBar" /><ref name="Mag">{{Cite web |title=Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick |url=https://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/magistrate-judge-karoline-mehalchick |access-date=June 28, 2023 |publisher=[[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]]}}</ref> She became the Chief Magistrate Judge on January 4, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vigna |first=Paul |date=December 28, 2020 |title=Karoline Mehalchick appointed to chief magistrate Judge of the Middle District of Pa. |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/12/karoline-mehalchick-appointed-to-chief-magistrate-judge-of-the-middle-district-of-pa.html |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=Patriot News and PennLive |language=en}}</ref> Mehalchick presides over the Scranton location of the Court-Assisted Re-Entry Program (CARE Court) and sits on the Court's Prisoner Litigation Settlement Program Committee, a program which she helped establish in early 2015.<ref name="FedBar" /> As a magistrate judge, Mehalchick [[adjudicate]]d cases related to [[misdemeanor]] crimes that were allegedly committed in the [[National Park Service]]'s middle district of Pennsylvania, which includes the [[Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area]] and the [[Gettysburg National Military Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2023 |title=Lecture: Crime and Punishment in our National Parks |url=https://events.temple.edu/cancelled-lecture-crime-and-punishment-in-our-national-parks |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=events.temple.edu |publisher=Temple University |publication-place=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}</ref> Mehalchick has also served as an [[adjunct professor]] at [[Marywood University]], where she has taught Legal and Clinical Aspects of Health Care to graduate students in nursing and health administration.<ref name="OPR" />

On June 28, 2023, President [[Joe Biden]] announced his intent to nominate Mehalchick to serve as a [[United States federal judge|United States district judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]].<ref name="WHBio" /> Mehalchick was recommended to the White House by Pennsylvania senators [[Bob Casey Jr.]] and [[John Fetterman]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2023 |title=U.S. magistrate nominated for Middle District judge |url=https://www.dailyitem.com/news/u-s-magistrate-nominated-for-middle-district-judge/article_30c5807c-15e4-11ee-b33f-d76f9d6c9d20.html |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=The Daily Item |language=en}}</ref> On July 12, 2023, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated her to the seat vacated by Judge [[John E. Jones III]], who retired on August 1, 2021.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate |date=July 11, 2023 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/07/11/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-113/}}</ref> On July 26, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2023 |title=Nominations |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/07/26/2023/nominations |publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> During her confirmation hearing, Senators [[Marsha Blackburn]], [[John Kennedy (Louisiana politician)|John Kennedy]], [[Ted Cruz]], and [[Lindsey Graham]] vigorously [[cross-examine]]d her over her recommendation that [[Pennsylvania State University]] president [[Graham Spanier]]'s child endangerment conviction be reversed and remanded for a new trial, which was adopted by the District Court, then later overturned by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit]] on the ground that the District Court had not correctly determined whether Spanier was entitled to federal [[habeas corpus]] relief. Senators Graham and Kennedy pointed out that 31 of her recommendations to the District Court had not been adopted in full by higher courts, repeatedly characterizing these as "reversals." Mehalchick defended her record by stating that fewer than 2% of her rulings had been overturned by higher courts.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weiss |first=Benjamin S. |date=July 26, 2023 |title=Senate GOP hammers Biden’s pick for Pennsylvania federal court at committee hearing |language=en-US |work=Courthouse News |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/senate-gop-hammers-bidens-pick-for-pennsylvania-federal-court-at-committee-hearing/ |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> On September 14, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 [[party line vote]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-09-14_-_ebm_-_results.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 14, 2023|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=September 14, 2023}}</ref> On January 31, 2024, the [[United States Senate]] invoked [[cloture]] on her nomination by a 50–49 vote, with Senator [[Joe Manchin]] voting against the motion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00027.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Karoline Mehalchick to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania)|website=United States Senate|date=January 31, 2024|access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref> Later that day her nomination was confirmed by a 50–49 vote, with Senator Manchin voting against confirmation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00028.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Karoline Mehalchick, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania)|website=United States Senate|date=January 31, 2024|access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Mehalchick confirmed as federal judge, but just barely|url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/mehalchick-confirmed-as-federal-judge-but-just-barely/article_d27ead3a-f8f2-5049-85e6-772b9135db08.html|website=timetimes-tribune.com|access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref> She received her judicial commission on February 5, 2024.<ref>{{FJC Bio|nid=13761476|inline=yes}}</ref>

==Affiliations==

Mehalchick is active in the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession and is a past president of the Younger Lawyers Division of the Lackawanna Bar Association.{{cn|date=July 2023}} While clerking for Corbett, she began volunteering with Pennsylvania's mock trial education program, which operates in multiple high schools across the commonwealth. She coached the mock trial team at [[Abington Heights High School]] for two years.<ref name="Nissley-2006-06-19" /> She is also a member of the [[Federal Bar Association]] and the Lackawanna Bar Association.<ref name="Mag" />

Mehalchick is a board member of the Ballet Theatre of Scranton.<ref name="FedBar" /> A 2006 newspaper article said she had raised funds for Lawyers in the Classroom and the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute<ref name="Nissley-2006-06-19" /> and had volunteered for the Big Brother/Big Sister program, the Boys and Girls Club, and United Neighborhood Centers.<ref name=Namedropper/>

== See also ==

* [[Joe Biden judicial appointment controversies]]

==References==

==External links==

*{{FJC Bio|nid=13761476}}

{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]]}}|years=2024–present}}

{{s-inc}}

[[Category:1976 births]]

[[Category:21st-century American judges]]

[[Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]]

[[Category:People from Berlin, Vermont]]

[[Category:Tulane University Law School alumni]]

[[Category:United States district court judges appointed by Joe Biden]]