Biography

11/07/1944 -

D. (Dennis) Michael “Mike” Fisher (R37) Allegheny (Part) County 1981-1982 (R37) Allegheny (Part) and Washington (Part) Counties 1983-1996

Early Life:

D. (Dennis) Michael “Mike” Fisher, born November 7, 1944, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; son of C. Francis and Dolores Darby Fisher; South Hills Catholic High School, 1962; Georgetown University, A.B., government, 1966; Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1969; United States Army Reserve, 1969-1975; attorney; aide, United States Congressman James Fulton, 1967; Assistant District Attorney, Allegheny County, 1970-1974; vice chair, Allegheny County Young Republicans, 1972; alternate delegate, 22nd District, Republican National Convention, 1972; vice president, Upper Saint Clair Republican Club, 1973-1975; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1975-1980; not a candidate for reelection, 1980; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1980-1996; elected, Majority Whip, 1991-1992; elected, Majority Whip, 1995-1996; appointed, Governor’s Energy Council, 1981-1982; appointed, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, 1981-2003; appointed, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, 1981-1982; appointed, Pennsylvania Public Television Network Commission, 1987-1988; appointed, Joint State Government Commission, 1991-1996; appointed, board, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority, (PHEAA), 1993-1996; appointed, Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority; appointed, Environmental Quality Board; unsuccessful campaign, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, 1986; not a candidate for reelection, 1996; elected, Pennsylvania Attorney General, 1996-2003; unsuccessful campaign, Governor of Pennsylvania, 2002; presidential appointee, judge, United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2003-2007; married Carol Hudak, two children.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations; American Arbitration Association; admitted to practice before all Pennsylvania and Federal courts; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Knights of Columbus; American Legion; Ancient Order of Hibernians; Rotary; Bethel Park Chamber of Commerce; Saint Louise de Marillac Church Parish Council, 1975-78; board member, Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; Pennsylvania Bar Association Federal Practice Committee, Third Circuit Attorney Disciplinary Committee; board of trustees, University of Pittsburgh. Initial Distinguished Jurist in Residence at Pitt Law teaching Federal Courts and Federal Appellate Advocacy. 

Authored:

Report on Medical and Mental Health, Pennsylvania Correctional System, 1980; Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Prison and Jail Overcrowding, Senate Act 195 Task Force Reports, 1985. 

Awards:

Outstanding Young Man of American United States Jaycees, 1977, 1978, 1979; Man of the Year, Upper Saint Clair Republican Club, 1980; Pittsburgh Man of the Year in Law and Government, Vectors, 1991. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1975-1980; not a candidate for reelection, 1980.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 37th district, Allegheny (Part) County, 1981-1982; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 37th district, Allegheny (Part) and Washington (Part) Counties, 1983-1996; chairman, Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, 1981-1990; chairman, Republican Policy Committee, 1989-1990; chairman, Republican Caucus; elected, Majority Whip, 1991-1993; elected, Caucus Secretary, 1993-1994; elected, Majority Whip, 1995-1996; appointed, Governor’s Energy Council, 1981-1982; appointed, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, 1981-2003; appointed, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, 1981-1982; appointed, Pennsylvania Public Television Network Commission, 1987-1988; appointed, Joint State Government Commission, 1991-1996; appointed, board, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority, (PHEAA), 1993-1996; left office November 30, 1996.

Elected Pennsylvania Attorney General 1997-2003. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Governor of Pennsylvania, 2002

Continued Government Service:

Appointed, President George W. Bush, United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, confirmed unanimously, United States Senate, December 2003-2017. 

Chair, Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction of the United States Judicial Conference, 2019-2022. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Biography:

Fisher, D. Michael | Federal Judicial Center (fjc.gov)

Legacy:

Programs and Courses University of Pittsburgh 

Teaching 2023-2024

5138 Federal Appellate Advocacy (Fall Term 2023-2024)

5154 Federal Habeas Corpus, Its History & Practice (Fall Term 2023-2024)

Teaching 2022-2023

5138 Federal Appellate Advocacy (Fall Term 2022-2023)

5154 Federal Habeas Corpus, Its History & Practice (Fall Term 2022-2023)

Teaching 2021-2022

5138 Federal Appellate Advocacy (Fall Term 2021-2022)

5154 Federal Habeas Corpus, Its History & Practice (Fall Term 2021-2022)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members F". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1980-1981). (Volume 105). Department of General Services. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 68. 

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1995). (Volume 112). Department of General Services. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 3-14.