Cathy Bissoon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | |
| Assumed office December 7, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Mark R. Hornak |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | |
| Assumed office October 19, 2011 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Thomas Hardiman |
| Magistrate Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office 2008 – October 19, 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cathy Castro[1] (1968-05-16)May 16, 1968 (age 57) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Alfred University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Cathy Bissoon (born May 16, 1968) is thechief United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Previously, she was aUnited States magistrate judge of the same court. She was appointed a district judge by PresidentBarack Obama and was confirmed by the United States Senate in October 2011.
Bissoon was born on May 16, 1968, inBrooklyn, New York.[2] Bissoon's father was fromPuerto Rico and her mother fromTrinidad.[3] When Bissoon was four years old, her father was killed in astabbing close to the family home in theWilliamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.[3] Bissoon's mother later remarried and the family moved toQueens, New York.[3] Bissoon attendedAlfred University inNew York, where she graduatedsumma cum laude with aBachelor of Arts inpolitical science in 1990.[4][5] She earned herJuris Doctor fromHarvard Law School in 1993.[6][7]
After completing law school, Bissoon joined thePittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office ofReed Smith, practicing in the firm's labor and employment group. While atReed Smith, Bissoon took a one-year leave of absence to serve as alaw clerk for JudgeGary L. Lancaster of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.[6] In 2007, Bissoon joined thePittsburgh law firm ofCohen & Grigsby where she was the Director of the firm's Labor & Employment Group.[4][7]
In July 2008, Bissoon was selected to serve as aUnited States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, replacing Judge Francis X. Caiazza.[8] She joined thebench on August 1, 2008, and is the first woman of color to sit on the federal bench in Pittsburgh.[8] Bissoon, who isHispanic andIndian, is also the first woman of Indian descent to sit on a federal court in the United States.[9]
During the111th Congress, SenatorsArlen Specter andBob Casey Jr. recommended Bissoon for a seat on the Western District of Pennsylvania.[5] On November 17, 2010, PresidentBarack Obama formally nominated Bissoon to be aUnited States district judge,[4] to replace JudgeThomas Hardiman, who was elevated to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on April 2, 2007.[6] On October 17, 2011, theUnited States Senate confirmed Bissoon by an 82–3 vote.[10] She received her commission on October 19, 2011.[7] With her appointment, Bissoon became the first Hispanic female Article III judge in Pennsylvania and the first Asian American Article III judge in Pennsylvania.[7] She became chief judge of the court on December 7, 2025.[11]
Bissoon was honored as one of five finalists for the 2010 Athena Award. The award honors female leaders in the region who demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in business, who provide time and energy to improve the quality of life of others and who actively assist other women in realizing their full leadership potential.
In 2010, Bissoon also was honored by Pittsburgh Professional Women as one of their 2010 Women of Integrity. The award is given to women who have distinguished themselves as leaders who balance career and civic responsibilities, while sharing their success by mentoring others and supporting their communities.
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania 2011–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania 2025–present | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
