Keli Neary

Middle District of Pennsylvania
	Third Circuit
Judgeships
	Posts: 6
	Judges: 6
	Vacancies: 0
Judges
	Chief: Matthew Brann
	Active judges: ; Matthew Brann, Karoline Mehalchick, Julia Munley, Keli Neary, Jennifer Philpott Wilson, Joseph Saporito; Senior judges:; Yvette Kane, Malachy Mannion, Robert David Mariani

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Keli Neary
	Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Progress
	Confirmed 132 days after nomination.
	Nominated: July 31, 2024
	ABA Rating: Well qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: September 25, 2024
	Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: November 21, 2024
	Confirmed: December 10, 2024
	Vote: 49-48

Keli Neary is a judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on July 31, 2024, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 10, 2024, by a vote of 49-48.^[1]^[2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Prior to joining the court, Neary was the Executive Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Law Division of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.^[3]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (2025-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On July 31, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Neary to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She was confirmed by a 49-48 vote of the U.S. Senate on December 10, 2024. Neary received commission on January 17, 2025.^[1]^[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Neary by a vote of 49-48 on December 10, 2024.^[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Neary confirmation vote (December 10, 2024)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	46	0	1
Republican	0	48	1
Independent	3	0	1
Total	49^[4]	48	3

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Neary's nomination on September 25, 2024. Neary was reported to the full Senate on November 21, 2024, after an 11-10 committee vote.^[5] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee vote.

Nomination

On July 31, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Keli Neary to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.^[2]

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Neary well qualified.^[6] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Neary was nominated to replace Judge Christopher Conner, who retired senior status on January 17, 2025.^[7]

Biography

Education

Neary was born in 1981 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2003 and a law degree from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2006.^[1]

Professional career

2025-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
2012-2024: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- 2019-2024: executive deputy attorney general
- 2018-2019: chief deputy attorney general
- 2016-2018: senior deputy attorney general
- 2012-2016: deputy attorney general III
2007-2012: Assistant counsel, Pennsylvania State Police
- 2011-2012: assistant counsel III
- 2009-2011: assistant counsel II
- 2007-2009: assistant counsel I
2006-2007: Law clerk, Hon. C. Joseph Rehkamp, Court of Common Pleas of Perry-Juniata County^[1]

About the court

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is one of 94 United States district courts. The court operates out of Scranton, Pennsylvania. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit based in downtown Philadelphia at the James Byrne Courthouse.

Jurisdiction

Pennsylvania counties (click for larger map)

The Middle District of Pennsylvania has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The geographic jurisdiction of the Middle District of Pennsylvania consists of approximately one-half of Pennsylvania. The following counties form the Middle District:

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.