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Michael Baylson

Michael M. Baylson W’61, L’64

Adjunct Professor of Law

The Honorable Michael M. Baylson W’61, L’64 was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President George W. Bush and took office on July 12, 2002.

After clerking for the Honorable Joseph Sloane of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and volunteering with the Defender Association, Judge Baylson began serving as an Assistant District Attorney under District Attorney Arlen Specter in January 1966 and became Chief of the Homicide Division in 1969. In January 1970, Judge Baylson joined Duane Morris and became a partner in 1974. He handled complex civil litigation matters and tried numerous cases, specializing in class actions, antitrust and securities issues.

After serving as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from October 1988 through January 1993, Judge Baylson returned to Duane Morris and resumed an active law practice. He served as Chair of the 140-lawyer Trial Department and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Judge Baylson was a founder, and later counsel, to Gaudenzia, Inc., the largest non-profit provider of drug, alcohol, and mental health rehabilitation services in Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Judicial Conference of the United States.