December 2, 2020 / Press Release

Porter Wright alumnus confirmed to the federal bench

Porter Wright is proud to congratulate former partner J. Phillip Calabrese after he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as judge for the U.S. Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He enjoyed bipartisan support from Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman when he was approved by the full senate on Dec. 1, 2020.

Judge Calabrese was a litigation partner in Porter Wright’s Cleveland office, where he also co-chaired the firm’s class action practice. In June 2019, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appointed him to serve as judge in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. He was then nominated to the federal bench in February 2020.

“We are incredibly proud of Phil’s appointment to the United States District Court,” said Jim Curphey, chair of Porter Wright’s Litigation Department. “We wish him the best in this challenging endeavor and are confident that he is up to the task. While at the firm, Phil excelled in all aspects of the practice due in no small part to his commitment to excellence, natural talents, and keen sense of finding the best approach to solving difficult problems and thorny issues.”

Judge Calabrese is a graduate of Harvard Law School and former president of the Federal Bar Association’s Northern District of Ohio Chapter. He is also a life member of the Judicial Conference of the Sixth Circuit.

Judge Calabrese should take the federal bench sometime in December.