The Honorable Mia Roberts Perez
United States District Judge - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The Honorable Mia Roberts Perez serves as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She joined the federal bench, bringing to the court extensive experience as both a trial lawyer and state court judge.
Judge Perez earned her undergraduate degree from Tufts University and her law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she was recognized for excellence in trial advocacy. Before her judicial service, she developed a deep trial background, trying hundreds of cases to verdict. She began her career with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, representing indigent defendants in state and federal courts, and later gained civil litigation experience in private practice. In 2011, she founded her own firm, where she focused on criminal defense and family law and handled numerous high-stakes matters, including capital cases.
In 2016, Judge Perez was elected to the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania’s Court of Common Pleas, becoming one of the youngest judges in the court’s history. During her tenure, she presided over a substantial docket that included hundreds of jury and bench trials. She also took on leadership roles within the court, contributing to judicial education, criminal justice administration, and language access initiatives.
Judge Perez has a longstanding record of public service and professional engagement. She has served on the Criminal Justice Act Panel, volunteered at expungement clinics, and is a founding member of the Women in Law Networking Group, which fosters dialogue among women attorneys and judges on access, diversity, and inclusion. She received the Odessa Award from the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women in recognition of her service. In addition, she served for a decade as an adjunct professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law. She currently serves on the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania.