US Senate Confirms Middle District Judge

Matthew Brann of Canton to fill vacant position

Bradford County attorney Matthew Brann was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 2012, to fill a vacant judgeship in the United States District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  The seat has been vacant since Judge Thomas Vanaskie was elevated to the Court of Appeals in May 2010.

Judge Brann is expected to preside in Williamsport.  He will be the first active member of the court to regularly sit in Williamsport since Judge James McClure took senior status in 2001.  Judge John Jones originally maintained chambers in both Harrisburg and Williamsport when appointed to the bench in 2002, but then later located only in Harrisburg.  The courthouse was regularly manned by Senior Judges McClure and Malcolm Muir, until Judge Muir's their deaths in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

The judge was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama upon the recommendation of both Pennsylvania Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey.  The Senate confirmation vote was unanimous.

Brann is a partner at Brann, Williams, Caldwell & Sheetz in Troy and Canton and has worked in civil trial litigation, corporate and commercial transactions, probate and estate planning, and general real estate transactions. He is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law and earned a bachelor's degree from Notre Dame University.

Brann is also involved with charitable and civic organizations, including the Lions Club, Boy Scouts of America, the Martha Lloyd School, Guthrie Health, the Endless Mountain Music Festival, the Elmira City Club and the Wheel Inn.

He is expected to formally join the bench in January, after he closes out his practice of some 22 years. 

Brann and his wife, Laura, have two sons, John and Peter.