Hon. Thomas M. Blewitt (Ret.)  served as a Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania since 1992, including a term as Chief Magistrate Judge from 2002 through 2010.  During his 23 years on the bench, he conducted jury trials, bench trials, settlement conferences, and mediations in civil matters that arose on a regular basis in Federal Court.

Judge Blewitt’s 23-year tenure on the Federal Bench has earned him a reputation as an experienced and skilled mediator who has successfully facilitated the settlement of hundreds of cases involving a wide variety of civil matters, inducing personal injury, business/commercial, civil rights, employment, and product liability.

Judge Blewitt began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, before spending six years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• As a United Sates Magistrate Judge, he presided over 77 civil trials while handling close to 600 civil consent cases. Over 5,500 civil matters were referred to Judge Blewitt, and he issued Reports and Recommendations to the District Court over 4,000 times.
• While on the bench, he conducted over 800 settlement conferences throughout the District, including Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, and Harrisburg.

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Completed Virtual ADR training conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS
• Recipient, Frances Fuller Award (Annual Award for exceptional service to Friendship House), 2002 and 2013
• Board of Directors, Friendship House Children’s Center
• Board of Directors, Scranton Community Concerts
• Board of Directors, Family Service of Lackawanna County
• University of Scranton Alumni Society
• University of Scranton Royals Club
• Temple Law Alumni
• University of Scranton Purple Club
• Scranton Preparatory School Alumni Association
• Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Member, Lackawanna County Bar Association
• Member, Federal Magistrate Judges Association
• Magistrate Judges Advisor Group to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (January 2006-December 2009)
• Defender Services Committee, Third Circuit Judicial Council (1998-2000, 2003-2010)

Background and Education

• U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1992-2015; Chief Magistrate Judge, 2002-2010
• Assistant Federal Public Defender, Middle District of Pennsylvania
• Assistant District Attorney, Lackawanna County
• J.D., Temple University School of Law, 1983
• M.P.A., Marywood University, 1979
• B.A., University of Scranton, 1972