--- title: "Kim R. Gibson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kim-r-gibson-1194" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Kim R. Gibson U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania - State: Pennsylvania - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania, 2003-present - Judge, Court of Common Pleas of Somerset County Pennsylvania, 1998-2003 - Solicitor, Somerset County, PA, 1988-1998 - Public defender, Court of Common Pleas of Somerset County Pennsylvania, 1978-1980 - Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, completing Airborne and Ranger training, and held the role of an armor officer until 1975 ### Education - The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University — J.D. (1975) - a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Dickinson School of Law in 1975, where he held the role of an editor of the Dickinson Law Review - United States Military Academy at West Point in — B.S. (1970) - The JAG School, University of Virginia ### Additional information - His judicial service officially ended upon his death on May 30, 2025 Kim R. Gibson is remembered for his lifelong dedication to public service, both in the military and on the bench, as well as his leadership in community and national projects - Kim Richard Gibson was born on May 29, 1948, in Trenton, New Jersey, and passed away on May 30, 2025, at the age of 77 - Gibson assumed senior status on June 3, 2016, but continued to handle a full caseload until his illness - Confirmed by the Senate on September 23, 2003, he received his commission the following day and was sworn in on October 20, 2003 - overseeing the development of the memorial commemorating the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 who thwarted a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 - Private practice, Pennsylvania, 1978-1998 - He continued in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Colonel in 1996, and was recalled to active duty during the Gulf War in 1991 - Assistant county solicitor and attorney for children and youth services, Somerset County, PA, 1980-1988 - Army JAG Corps — served until 1978 - post judge advocate, 1975-1978 - U.S. Army, 1966-1978 - Date of birth: 1948-01-01 - In the months before his death, Gibson was unable to preside over cases due to illness, and some of his cases were reassigned to other judges - Gibson co-chaired the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force - He also served on the Judicial Conference’s Court Administration and Case Management Committee and was an adjunct professor at Penn State Dickinson Law During his federal judicial service, he presided over significant cases, including rulings involving Eighth Amendment claims, and was recognized for his mentorship of younger judges and contributions to the legal community - Birth place: Trenton, NJ ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording photography evidence presentation Scope: statewide For Pennsylvania Common Pleas proceedings, statewide Pa.R.J.A. 1910 prohibits courtroom broadcasting, recording, and photography unless an exception or judicial authorization applies; the rule also recognizes judge-authorized electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation. Evidence excerpt: the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence [201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1194/kim-r-gibson/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1194/kim-r-gibson/) - [U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1194/kim-r-gibson/) - [201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1194/kim-r-gibson/) - [Gibson, Kim R. | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/gibson-kim-r) - [Kim R. Gibson | Western District of Pennsylvania | United States District Court](https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/kim-r-gibson) - [Wikidata: Kim R. Gibson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16121004) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kim-r-gibson-1194", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kim-r-gibson-1194", "name": "Kim R. Gibson | KnowJudges", "description": "Kim R. Gibson, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. 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