Senate confirms magistrate judge for federal seat in Erie

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Susan Paradise Baxter as U.S. District judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Judge Baxter, who has served as a U.S. magistrate judge in the district since 1995, was confirmed by voice vote.

Judge Baxter was nominated to the federal bench in 2015 by President Barack Obama and then renominated by President Donald Trump. She will fill a seat in Erie that has been vacant for more than five years.

Pennsylvania Sens. Pat Toomey, a Republican, and Bob Casey, a Democrat, said in a joint news release that they were pleased that the full Senate had confirmed Judge Baxter, and they complimented her intellect, integrity and experience.

Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Baxter served as Erie County’s solicitor and as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of the law firm that has become Davis WrightTremaine LLP.

Judge Baxter earned her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University, her master’s of education from Temple University, and her law degree from the Temple UniversityBeasley School of Law.

“I think she’s very well-qualified,” said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor who tracks judicial nominations. “She’s a mainstream jurist, and I think she’s very highly regarded in Western Pennsylvania.”