Robert J. Cindrich was appointed to the United States District Court for Western Pennsylvania by President William J. Clinton in 1994, and stepped down from that position to become the chief legal counsel for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) on February 1, 2004.
Prior to his appointment, Judge Cindrich was active in both government and private practice. His government practice included positions as Allegheny County assistant public defender (1969-70) and assistant district attorney (1970-72). From 1978 to 1981 he was United States Attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania and from 1992-92 he was chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
His private law practice includes partnerships in several law firms including Mansmann Cindrich and Huber (1981-86); Mansmann Cindrich & Titus (1986-91); and Cindrich & Titus (1991-94). While in private practice, he served as defense counsel in business and commercial litigation.
A 1968 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, he subsequently served as a specialist IV in the United States Army Reserves from 1968 to 1971 and as a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force reserves from 1971 to 1975.
Cindrich also is an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and at the Duquesne University School of Law. In addition, he has been vice chair of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law board of visitors, and a lecturer at the Allegheny County Police Academy.
He has belonged to numerous professional organizations including the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Allegheny County Academy of Trial Lawyers, among others. He is a member of the national Judicial Resources Committee and the circuit Judicial Council on Information Technology.
His awards and honors include Jaycee Man of the Year in Law and Government, the Variety Club Pride of Pittsburgh Award and the American Legion Citizen Award.
Cindrich resides with his wife, Bonnie, in Mars, Pa. They have three children Amanda Rechter of Cranberry, Stephen, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and Scott of Robinson Township.