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Washington, D.C. - U.S Senators Arlen Specter, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Bob Casey, the junior senator from Pennsylvania, announced today that the U.S. Senate has confirmed the nomination of Nora Barry Fischer to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The Senate confirmed Mrs. Fischer with a unanimous vote of 96-0.

"I believe Mrs. Fischer's distinguished academic record and significant background in mediation make her precisely the type of nominee we're looking for, and I believe she will do very well in this important position," Senator Specter said.

"Ms. Fischer will bring a wealth of knowledge to the bench and I am confident that she will serve Western Pennsylvania and the nation well," Senator Casey stated.

The President nominated Mrs. Fischer to be a District Court Judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania on July 13, 2006. On September 12, 2006 she received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mrs. Fischer was renominated in the 110th Congress and unanimously approved by the Judiciary Committee on February 8, 2007. The American Bar Association has given Mrs. Fischer a unanimous well-qualified rating.

Mrs. Fischer graduated magna cum laude from St. Mary's College, earning her B.A. in 1973, and received her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1976. In 1977, Mrs. Fischer joined the well-regarded Pittsburgh firm of Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck as an associate. She became senior partner in 1982.

In 1992, Mrs. Fischer became an equity partner at another prominent Pittsburgh firm, Pietragallo, Bosick & Gordon, where she currently serves as co-chair of the Defense Litigation Practice. Mrs. Fischer has significant mediation experience, having served as an Adjunct Settlement Judge, an Arbitrator for the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and as a mediator by private appointment and through the West Virginia State Bar Association.