---
title: "Thomas Michael Hardiman | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-michael-hardiman"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Thomas Michael Hardiman

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2007-present
- Supreme Court Nomination Considerations – In 2017, was a finalist to succeed Antonin Scalia; in 2018, again considered for Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat
- Judge, District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania, 2003-2007
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

### Education

- Georgetown University Law Center; held the role of editor of the Georgetown Law Journal — J.D. (1990)
- University of Notre Dame (honors graduate) — B.A. (1987)

### Additional information

- American Law Institute – Elected in 2012; served on the Council (2019) and Executive Committee (2025).
- Judicial Conference Leadership – Appointed to the Information Technology Committee in 2008; chaired the committee from 2013–2021; later Chair of the Judiciary IT Security Task Force.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Nominated January 9, 2007; confirmed March 15, 2007 (95–0 vote) to replace Richard L. Nygaard; assumed office April 2, 2007.
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Appointed by George W. Bush on April 9, 2003, to replace William L. Standish; confirmed October 22, 2003; served until April 5, 2007.
- Reed Smith LLP (Pittsburgh, PA, 1999–2003)
- Private practice, Pittsburgh, PA, 1992-2003
- Titus & McConomy LLP (Pittsburgh, PA, 1992–1999)
- Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1990-1992
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Washington, D.C., 1990–1992)
- Date of birth: 1965-01-01
- Maintains chambers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Native of Waltham, Massachusetts; married to Lori Zappala; three children.
- Regularly teaches advanced constitutional law at Duquesne University School of Law and at Georgetown University Law Center.
- Birth place: Winchester, MA

## 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

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392056)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392056)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392056)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1363/thomas-michael-hardiman/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1363/thomas-michael-hardiman/)
- [Wikidata: Thomas Hardiman](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7790409)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-michael-hardiman",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-michael-hardiman",
      "name": "Thomas Michael Hardiman | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Thomas Michael Hardiman, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-michael-hardiman#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-michael-hardiman#judge",
      "name": "Thomas Michael Hardiman",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-michael-hardiman",
      "jobTitle": "U.S. Circuit Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392056",
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1363/thomas-michael-hardiman/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1965",
      "birthPlace": "Winchester, MA",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Notre Dame"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Georgetown University Law Center"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "National federal courts",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/national-federal-courts"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Thomas Michael Hardiman",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-michael-hardiman"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```