“As a recipient of Temple’s honorary degree, Chief Judge Scirica serves as an example of the university's highest aspirations for its students and community,” said President Ann Weaver Hart. “We can all be inspired by his humane and compassionate public service contributions as well as his professional achievement and leadership."


In addition to his duties as Chief Judge, Scirica chairs the executive committee of the Judicial Conference. The Judicial Conference is a body of 27 federal judges, with the Chief Justice of the United States serving as its presiding officer, which reviews the operation of the federal judiciary and policy issues affecting the federal courts, makes recommendations to Congress on legislation affecting the judicial system, proposes amendments to the federal rules of practice and procedure, and oversees the administrative operations of the courts.

Before his appointment to the bench, Scirica practiced law in Norristown, his hometown, becoming a partner in the firm of McGrory, Scirica, Wentz, Fernandez and Albright. In Montgomery County, he also served as an Assistant District Attorney (1967-1969) and later elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (1980).

During that time, as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1971-1979), Scirica chaired the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and sponsored the state divorce code, the sentencing guidelines code and the witness-immunity act. He also served as chair of the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission.

In 1984, Scirica was appointed United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and in 1987 he was elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, where he continues to serve. He was named Chief Judge in 2003.

Upon his joining the federal bench, the Philadelphia Inquirer said of Scirica:

“He is tough-minded and a genuine scholar of the law. …As a legislator and a jurist he has gained a reputation for blending compassionate concern for the socially disadvantaged with sternness in protecting society against the criminally violent and corrupt.

“From his earliest years in the legislature through his judicial service at the courthouse in Norristown [,] he has taken keen interest in making the justice system more effective and the prison system more humane. …He is an all-too-rare breed of public servant.”

Throughout his career, Scirica has served in a broad range of professional leadership capacities, including:

• Chair, United States Judicial Conference Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure
• Chair, United States Judicial Conference Working Group on Mass Torts
• Chair, Governor’s Commission on Graterford State Correctional Institution
• Vice Chair, Commission to Study Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System
• Member, Advisory Committee on Civil Rules
• Member, Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation
• Member, Special Committee on Federal Judicial Code Revision, American Law Institute
• Adviser, Principles of the Law of Aggregate Litigation Project, American Law Institute
• Adviser, Principles and Rules of Transnational Civil Procedure Project, American Law Institute

As an adjunct faculty member, Scirica has shared his experience and expertise with the Pennsylvania College of the Judiciary, the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges and the law schools of Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University and Temple University.

Scirica earned his bachelor’s degree in romance languages from Wesleyan University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan. After graduating from law school, he studied international and civic law as a Fulbright Scholar at Central University of Venezuela in Caracas.

Scirica has served Temple University for nearly three decades as a member of the Board of Trustees. He was the first chair of and still serves on the Board of Visitors of Temple’s Beasley School of Law.

“Chief Judge Scirica’s exemplary career, his service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the citizens of the United States, and his leadership in promoting Temple University’s growth to national and international prominence reflect the ideals and aspirations we seek to instill in every Temple University graduate,” said Daniel H. Polett, chairman of Temple’s Board of Trustees.

Temple’s Commencement takes place in the Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad St., beginning at 10 a.m.