President Obama has nominated Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She would fill the “New Jersey seat” that was created when Judge Barry took senior status in June of this year.
A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Judge Shwartz is a graduate of Rutgers University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. After clerking for District Judge Harold Ackerman, she spent some time in private practice. Thereafter, Judge Shwartz served as an Assistant United States Attorney. In 2003, she was appointed as a Magistrate Judge. She currently serves as a Director of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association.
In my experience, Judge Shwartz has shown herself to be bright, practical and speedy in her decisions. Though a Magistrate Judge sees a steady diet of relatively mundane discovery disputes and case management issues, Judge Shwartz has also written some scholarly opinions on significant legal issues when they have come before her. That track record of opinion-writing will stand her in good stead if she is confirmed to the Third Circuit. She is deserving of confirmation.
Judge Shwartz is one of the top judges, of any type, in the District of New Jersey. She is also one of the most hard-working judges in this or any court. Judge Shwartz will be sorely missed in our District, but she will make an excellent Third Circuit judge.