Pittsburgh attorney confirmed as federal judge

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed a K&L Gates attorney from Pittsburgh as a U.S. District Court judge in Pennsylvania’s Western District.

J. Nicholas Ranjan, a managing partner with the firm, was nominated by President Trump in July 2018, according to a release from the firm. His term will begin in August.

As a commercial litigation attorney, Ranjan has focused on the energy industry, arbitration and defense against class action lawsuits, according to the release. He served as the chairman of the Pittsburgh office’s diversity committee.

James Segerdahl, a global managing partner with K&L Gates, said Ranjan will be “an outstanding federal judge.

“He has the intellect, temperament and judgment required to excel in the critically important role of federal jurist,” he said in a statement.

The Senate confirmed Ranjan in an 80-14 vote. Pennsylvania U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey both voted to confirm Ranjan, a graduate of Grove City College and the University of Michigan Law School.

Casey said Ranjan’s work as a federal law clerk and in private practice make him well-suited for the position. Toomey called him “an excellent addition” to the bench.