Washington, D.C. - In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this morning, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) introduced Wendy Beetlestone, Mark Kearney, Jay Leeson and Jerry Pappert -- as U.S. District judicial nominees for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. President Obama nominated these judges upon the joint recommendation of Sens. Casey and Toomey.

"I was pleased to able to introduce these four excellent candidates before the Judiciary Committee today," Sen. Casey said. "All of these nominees are excellent lawyers and have had distinguished legal careers. I'm hopeful that the Senate Judiciary Committee will report them out in a prompt and bipartisan fashion."

"I was honored to introduce Wendy Beetlestone, Mark Kearney, Jay Leeson and Jerry Pappert with Sen. Casey during today's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting," said Sen. Toomey. "I've worked closely with Sen. Casey on judicial nominations for our state to help confirm qualified, experienced individuals with unquestioned honesty, ability and integrity.

"I am confident that these four nominees will live up to these standards and hope that the Senate confirms them in a timely manner."

Background on nominees

Wendy Beetlestone

Wendy Beetlestone is a shareholder at the law firm Hangley Aronchick Segal &Pudlin in Philadelphia. She previously served as the General Counsel to the School District of Philadelphia. Ms. Beetlestone received her undergraduate degree from Liverpool University and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Beetlestone is also a Trustee of Philadelphia University and a member of the board of the Education Law Association.

Mark Kearney

Mark Kearney is a managing shareholder at Elliot Greenleaf & Siedzikowski, P.C. in Blue Bell. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Kearney received both his undergraduate degree and his law degree from Villanova University.

Mr. Kearney currently serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He is also on the Board of Consultors to Villanova Law School and is on the board of directors of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Jay Leeson

Jay Leeson has been a partner at Leeson & Leeson in Bethlehem since 1980. He was the Bethlehem City Solicitor from 1998 to 2004 and he served as a member of the Bethlehem City Council from 2004 to 2010. Born in Allentown, Mr. Leeson received his undergraduate degree from DeSales University and his law degree from Catholic University School of Law.

Gerald Pappert

Gerald "Jerry" Pappert is a partner at the Cozen O'Connor law firm in Philadelphia. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania. He received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Mr. Pappert is also the chairman of the Pennsylvania Banking & Securities Commission.