James Joseph Eisenhower

James Eisenhower is an attorney and former federal prosecutor with more than thirty years of experience in government and private practice who centers his legal practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and compliance advice.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf appointed James to a four-year term as a judge on the eight-member Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.  Judge Eisenhower was sworn in January 31, 2019 by Justice Debra Todd, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  He will remain of counsel at Dilworth along with the new role.

Judge Eisenhower was a White House Fellow in the administration of President Bill Clinton where he served on the National Security Council staff.  He drafted Presidential Decision Directive 42 on international organized crime, and the Executive Order that seized the assets of the Cali cartel, then the world’s largest cocaine distribution network.  He was a primary administration liaison to the International War Crimes Tribunal, The Hague, Netherlands for Bosnia and Rwanda. 

A two-time Democratic candidate for attorney general of Pennsylvania (2000 and 2004), James served the Commonwealth during the administration of Governor Edward G. Rendell as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), the Commonwealth’s criminal justice agency, and Chairman of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA), the state body that oversees the budget of the city of Philadelphia. 

Judge Eisenhower began his legal career as an Honor’s Program recruit at the United States Department of Justice, where he served as a federal prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, enforcing our nation’s laws against police brutality and hate crimes.  He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where he prosecuted cases of police and political corruption, narcotics and weapons offenses, and insurance fraud.  He was awarded the Attorney General’s commendation for “Sustained Superior Performance of Duty.”

Judge Eisenhower served as a law clerk to the Honorable J. Sydney Hoffman, Superior Court of Pennsylvania.  He is also an adjunct professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law specializing in election law.

Representative Experience

• Represented the Chief of Staff to the Democratic Leader of the House in the Pennsylvania "bonusgate matter".
• Represents a member of Congress.
• Represented the former Chief of Staff to Governor Ed Rendell in a federal investigation.
• Represented the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in the forfeiture of the Foxwoods Gaming License, resulting in a 50 million dollar forfeiture to the Commonwealth, the largest gaming related forfeiture in the history of Pennsylvania.
• Handled matters related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and involving wiretaps authorized by Title III of the federal criminal code.

Professional & Community Activities

• Member, American Law Institute
• Member, Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Judge, Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline, 2019
• Chair, Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) – 2007 – 2011
• Chair, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency – 2003 – 2004
• Democratic Candidate, Attorney General of Pennsylvania – 2000, 2004
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Professional Recognition

• Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of White Collar/Government Investigations, 2020.
• Edward J. McLaughlin Award for Distinguished Service to Victims, Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia, 2009.
• Eisenhower Fellow, 2002.
• White House Fellow, 1995.
• Sustained Superior Performance of Duty Award – US Department of Justice, 1992.
• Certificate of Commendation for Outstanding Performance in the Activities of the Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice, 1988.
• Honors Recruit – US Department of Justice, 1987.
• Marshall Scholar, 1982.