William Hendricks Yohn Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office November 20, 2003 – January 3, 2026 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office September 16, 1991 – November 20, 2003 | |
| Appointed by | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | John P. Fullam |
| Succeeded by | Gene E. K. Pratter |
| Member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from the146th district | |
| In office 1969–1980 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Robert Reber |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Hendricks Yohn Jr. (1935-11-20)November 20, 1935 Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 3, 2026(2026-01-03) (aged 90) |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
William Hendricks Yohn Jr. (November 20, 1935 – January 3, 2026) was aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Yohn was born inPottstown, Pennsylvania on November 20, 1935.[1] Yohn graduated fromPrinceton University with aBachelor of Arts degree in 1957 and received hisJuris Doctor from theYale Law School in 1960. He also attended the National Judicial College inReno, Nevada. He served in theUnited States Marine Corps from 1960 to 1961, and continued in the reserves until 1965. He was in private practice in Pottstown from 1961 to 1981. During that time, Yohn served as an assistant district attorney from 1962 to 1965 and as aRepublican Party member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from 1968 to 1980. In 1981 he was elected as a judge on the court of common pleas forMontgomery County, a position he held until 1991.[2]
Yohn was nominated by PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush on June 14, 1991, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by JudgeJohn P. Fullam. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on September 12, 1991, and received commission on September 16, 1991. He assumedsenior status on November 20, 2003. He died on January 3, 2026.[2]
Yohn was assigned to be the Judge during theVincent Fumo corruption trial in Philadelphia Federal Court in September 2008. On September 14, 2008,The Philadelphia Inquirer announced that Yohn had been hospitalized. He had been suffering from a cough and had complained in court last week about viruslike symptoms.[3] As of September 30, 2008, Yohn was replaced as the judge in the Fumo case.[4][5]
Yohn died on January 3, 2026, at the age of 90.[6]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 1991–2003 | Succeeded by |
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