Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is the 5th most populous US state with close to 13 million residents. It sits in the 3rd Federal Circuit Court of Appeals with a capital city at Harrisburg. Philadelphia is the largest city, but the state is also home to Pittsburgh, Erie, and Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.

In 2016, Pennsylvania’s economy was ranked 6th in the country, with a gross state product of nearly $720 billion. The state has several manufacturing centers and prominent financial and insurance industries. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are home to several Fortune 500 companies including PPG Industries, H.J Heinz, U.S Steel, Rite Aid, Comcast, and Hershey. Gambling was legalized in 2004, and the state has at least 10 casinos.

Current political party strength lies with the Democratic Party. However, in the 2016 election the state gave its 20 electoral votes to a Republican Presidential candidate for the first time since the 1988 elections.

Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 colonies, and it became a US territory in 1681 under the land grant to William Penn. It was the second state admitted into the Union on December 12, 1787. Philadelphia is home to Independence Hall, where the US Constitution was ratified and the Declaration of Independence was drafted. Pennsylvania has 140 miles of shoreline running across Lake Erie and the Delaware Estuary.

Pennsylvania is home to some of the best universities in the U.S., including University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Villanova University.

The state's top tourism attractions include the Liberty Bell, Hershey's Chocolate World, Gettysburg, the Pocono Mountains, and the  Carnegie Museums. The cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are frequently visited by tourists for their historical and cultural offerings. Philadelphia is home to the Eagles NFL team, the 76ers NBA team, the Flyers NHL team, and the Phillies MLB team. Pittsburgh is home to the Steelers NFL team, the Penguins NHL team, and the Pirates MLB team. 

Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit Court are often faced with legal issues involving labor and employment issues, data breach and security litigation, insurance, and taxes, and food and pharmaceuticals.