Eckert Seamans Counsel Robert DeSousa Appointed Chair of Pennsylvania Middle District Magistrate Judge Selection Panel
April 27, 2023
Robert DeSousa, government affairs Counsel at national law firm Eckert Seamans, has been appointed Chair of the Merit Selection Panel for the Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, effective April 17, 2023.
DeSousa will lead a group of seven individuals, including five lawyers and two nonlawyer members of the community, who were unanimously appointed to make a recommendation to the Court on the appointment of a full-time Magistrate Judge in Harrisburg. The panel will review all applicants and recommend to the district judges in confidence the five persons it considers best qualified by June 17, 2023.
Michael McAuliffe Miller, Member-In-Charge of Eckert Seamans’ Harrisburg office, commented: “Eckert Seamans is pleased to congratulate Bob on his appointment. We are proud that he is a valued leader of the panel and will be instrumental in choosing a new Magistrate Judge for our region.”
DeSousa has nearly 40 years of experience in the government and legal sectors, most recently serving as State Director for Senator Toomey for the past 12 years. Additionally, he served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for 28 years. In the Guard he held numerous positions of leadership, including as State Judge Advocate, where he provided counsel to the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania and senior staff. DeSousa also served as Inspector General of the Commonwealth during the Ridge Administration and as Chief Counsel to the Department of State, among other roles. He earned a J.D. from Dickinson School of Law, a Master of Strategies Studies from The United States Army War College, and a B.A. from Bucknell University.