Cindy Chung | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit | |
| Assumed office February 21, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | D. Brooks Smith |
| United States Attorney for theWestern District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office November 23, 2021 – February 17, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Scott Brady |
| Succeeded by | Eric G. Olshan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cindy Kyounga Chung 1975 (age 49–50) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Columbia University (JD) |
Cindy Kyounga Chung (born 1975)[1] is an American lawyer serving as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She previously served asUnited States attorney for theWestern District of Pennsylvania from 2021 to 2023.[2]
Chung was born in 1975 inOmaha, Nebraska.[3] She isKorean American.[4][5] She earned aBachelor of Arts fromYale University in 1997 and aJuris Doctor fromColumbia Law School in 2002.[6]
From 2002 to 2003, Chung served as alaw clerk for JudgeMyron H. Thompson of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. She then joined theManhattan District Attorney's office in 2003, serving as anassistant district attorney until 2007 and as investigation counsel in the Official Corruption Unit from 2007 to 2009. From 2009 to 2014, Chung served as a trial attorney in theUnited States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
From 2014 to 2021, she served asassistant United States attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, ultimately serving as deputy chief of theMajor Crimes Division.[7][8]
In 2007, Chung prosecutedrapperFoxy Brown forviolating probation after assaulting twomanicurists.[9][10][11]
In 2011, Chung was involved in prosecuting Frankie Maybee and Sean Popejoy, the first defendants to be sentenced under theShepherd-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act.[12][13]
On October 27, 2021, PresidentJoe Biden nominated Chung to be theUnited States attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.[14] On November 19, 2021, her nomination was confirmed in theUnited States Senate byvoice vote.[2] She was sworn into office on November 23, 2021, by Chief JudgeMark R. Hornak.[15] She resigned on February 17, 2023, to become a circuit judge of the Third Circuit.[16]
On July 12, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Chung to serve as aUnited States circuit judge for theThird Circuit. President Biden nominated Chung to the seat vacated by JudgeD. Brooks Smith, who assumedsenior status on December 4, 2021.[17] Chung was unanimously rated "well qualified" for the circuit judgeship by theAmerican Bar Association'sStanding Committee on the Federal Judiciary.[18]
On September 7, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[19] During her confirmation hearing, she was questioned by SenatorChuck Grassley about her judicial philosophy. A debate ensued between SenatorsSheldon Whitehouse,Mazie Hirono, andMike Lee about the term "originalism".[20] On September 28, 2022, her nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a 12–10 vote.[21] On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the president underRule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of theUnited States Senate; she was renominated later the same day.[22] On February 2, 2023, her nomination was favorably reported by the committee by an 11–9 vote.[23] On February 7, 2023, Majority LeaderChuck Schumer filedcloture on her nomination.[24] On February 9, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 52–46 vote.[25] On February 13, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by a 50–44 vote.[26] She received her judicial commission on February 21, 2023.[27] She is the first Asian-American to ever serve on the Third Circuit.[28][29]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 2023–present | Incumbent |