The United States Senate this week confirmed Peter Phipps, who currently sits as a District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, for a seat on the Third Circuit. The vote was 56-40, with three Democrats joining all Republican Senators in voting in favor. Judge Phipps now takes the seat that became vacant when Judge Vanaskie retired. Judge Phipps was confirmed for his District Court seat in October 2018, after having been nominated in May 2018. Thus, he sat in the District Court for less than one year before ascending to the Third Circuit. A...

The Eastern District of Pennsylvania has promulgated a new policy regarding cameras and personal electronic devices for all of its courthouses. The new policy, which is embodied in a standing order that is available here, goes into effect on June 3, 2019. Because the Byrne Courthouse, where the Third Circuit sits, is covered by this standing order, the policy will affect counsel and parties with matters at the Third Circuit. The standing order provides that “[a]ll cameras and personal electronic devices shall be subject to inspection upon entry at all designated court security...

In re Avandia Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, ___ F.3d ___ (3d Cir. 2019). This appeal had an unusual subject: whether certain documents that defendant GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) had designated as confidential in the District Court, pursuant to a protective order, but which were filed in connection with summary judgment proceedings, could go into the joint appellate appendix on plaintiffs’ appeal of that summary judgment ruling. GSK sought to keep the documents confidential on appeal. Plaintiffs disagreed, but the District Court largely sided with...