The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has announced that its Board of Judges has designated Patricia L. Dodge to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Dodge intends to enter on duty on June 3.

Dodge earned a Bachelor of Science degree with high distinction from Pennsylvania State University, and received her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Duquesne University. She has practiced law nationally for more than 35 years with a focus on complex litigation, and has extensive service as an ADR neutral. Dodge has been recognized repeatedly in “Best Lawyers in America,” was noted as the 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” for Bet the Company Litigation, and was recognized as one of the “500 Leading Lawyers in America” by Lawdragon.

Dodge has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. She has served as the President of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, as President of Council in Thornburg Borough and as a member of the Board of the National Aviary. She has been recognized as a “Woman of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts of America, as a “Distinguished Alumnus” of Duquesne University and as the recipient of the Joseph F. Weis Distinguished Service Award by the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.

Dodge’s official duty station will be in Pittsburgh and she will serve an initial eight-year term of office.