Trump nominates Scott Hardy to federal bench in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh lawyer W. Scott Hardy was nominated for a seat on the U.S. District Court bench in Pittsburgh, Trump administration officials announced Wednesday.

The 48-year-old Allegheny County Republican is a shareholder at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, where he focuses on labor and employment matters.

Hardy was among 10 nominees to federal courts across the nation that the White House announced Wednesday.

Before joining Ogletree Deakins in 2010, Hardy practiced for more than a decade at Cohen & Grigsby. He previously served as president of the Dean W. Edward Sell Chapter of the American Inns of Court. Hardy earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Allegheny College and his law degree from Notre Dame Law School.

Pennsylvania Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, and Bob Casey, D-Scranton, applauded Hardy’s nomination.

Despite deep partisan rifts in Congress, the two senators have worked across party lines to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. Since 2011, they vetted, recommended and confirmed 23 federal district court judges for Pennsylvania. Only two states – New York and Texas – have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during that time.

“Mr. Hardy’s 23 years of litigation experience in Pittsburgh will make him an excellent judge. I am confident he will be a fair and impartial jurist,” Toomey said in a statement released shortly after the announcement.

“He is a capable attorney who has the necessary intellect, experience, and character to faithfully and independently administer justice for the people of the commonwealth. I am grateful for his willingness to serve,” Casey said.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has seats in Pittsburgh, Erie and Johnstown. It serves 25 counties, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland.