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 "excerpt": "R. Barclay Surrick, born 1937, is a senior United States district judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, appointed by President Clinton in 2000 after serving on the Delaware County court.",
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 "markdown": "# R. Barclay Surrick\n\nR. Barclay Surrick (born 1937) is an American jurist and a senior United States district judge of the [United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-pennsylvania).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President William J. Clinton in 2000 and assumed senior status (semi-retired judge with reduced caseload) on February 1, 2011.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | William J. Clinton<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | May 24, 2000, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> |\n| Senior status | February 1, 2011<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> |\n| Born | 1937 in Media, Pennsylvania<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Dickinson College, 1960; J.D., Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law), 1965; LL.M., University of Virginia School of Law, 1982<sup>[2](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nSurrick was born in 1937 in Media, Pennsylvania.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) degree from [Dickinson College](https://www.edgepedia.org/dickinson-college) in 1960 and a [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from the Dickinson School of Law, now Penn State Dickinson Law, in 1965.<sup>[2](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)</sup> He later received a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982.<sup>[2](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nSurrick began his legal career as an associate for Basil C. Clare, Esq., from 1965 to 1966, and ran a solo practice in Delaware County from 1966 to 1967.<sup>[3](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/2000/04/2000-04-11-schiller-and-surrick-named-to-the-federal-bench.html)</sup> He worked as an associate at Lutz Fronfield Labrum & Knapp from 1967 to 1969, and was a shareholder at Cramp D'Iorio McConchie & Surrick from 1969 to 1977.<sup>[3](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/2000/04/2000-04-11-schiller-and-surrick-named-to-the-federal-bench.html)</sup> From 1965 to 1974, he served as Chief of the Appellate Division of the Office of the Public Defender in [Delaware County, Pennsylvania](https://www.edgepedia.org/delaware-county-pennsylvania).<sup>[3](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/2000/04/2000-04-11-schiller-and-surrick-named-to-the-federal-bench.html)</sup>\n\nIn 1978, Surrick became a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where he served until 2000.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident William J. Clinton nominated Surrick to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on April 11, 2000.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> The Senate confirmed him by voice vote on May 24, 2000, and he received his commission on June 5, 2000.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)</sup> He assumed senior status on February 1, 2011.<sup>[2](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Notable cases\n\nOne of the notable cases Surrick presided over was United States v. Savage.<sup>[2](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)</sup> The case involved [Kaboni Savage](https://www.edgepedia.org/kaboni-savage), who led a regional drug trafficking operation in North Philadelphia.<sup>[2](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)</sup> The verdict was upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.<sup>[2](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges, Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391181)\n2. [Judge Surrick, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania](https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/sites/paed/files/documents/Judge_Surrick.pdf)\n3. [President Clinton Nominates Berle M. Schiller and R. Barclay Surrick to the Federal Bench](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/2000/04/2000-04-11-schiller-and-surrick-named-to-the-federal-bench.html)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Se to Sy*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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