The Honorable Jan E. DuBois, a district court judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern Pennsylvania, former litigation partner at the Philadelphia Law Firm White & Williams, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and a devoted contributor to the Philadelphia community, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday May 10, 2026. On May 13 he was buried in a private family ceremony, including U.S. Military Honor Guard. He was 95.

Nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, Judge DuBois presided over an impressive volume of cases during his 33 years on the bench penning numerous opinions that continue to resonate today. Chief Judge Beetlestone of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania notes, however, that it was not the number of cases that he handled that distinguished Judge DuBois’ time on the bench; “it was his intellectual rigor, his focus on the big picture as well as the minutiae, all in service of his steadfast determination to do what was right under the law. He relished presiding over all matters that came before him—the complex and the straightforward. He was, in essence, a judge’s judge.”

Diligent rather than flashy, and dedicated to what jurisprudence set as the correct course, he never wavered from his commitment to the law, even where it troubled his heart – for example he occasionally felt the application of mandatory sentencing guidelines was profoundly unfair. As described by his former clerk, Professor Mark Osler, Judge DuBois was “known for his fierce intellect, his sense of justice, his authentic engagement with a fascinatingly diverse group of people, and his deep belief in the value of the law as a positive force in society.”

Judge DuBois assumed senior status in April 2002 yet maintained a maximum caseload, including highly complex multi-district litigation, right up to his retirement in 2021, at ninety years old. Reducing his caseload, he opined, might lead lawyers to diminish their respect or shortcut their preparation. To many who knew him, that seems unlikely: he had little tolerance for lawyers appearing unprepared. No one made that mistake twice.

Jan Ely DuBois – more familiarly known as ‘Bud’ – was born January 17, 1931 in Philadelphia where he lived most of his life. Aided by his uncles Ted DuBois and Jerry Stern, he overcame the death of his father in 1938 and attended Valley Forge Military Academy, graduating first in his class, developing a lifelong attention to detail, and, as his closest friends teased him, learning a life-long practice of spit shining his shoes. Judge DuBois graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952, served proudly in the U.S. Army for two years, and then studied law at Yale University, receiving his degree in 1957.

Following a clerkship for the Honorable Harry Kalodner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Judge DuBois entered private practice with White and Williams, where he spent almost thirty years as a cornerstone of its litigation department. Becoming a partner in 1964, he specialized in defending medical malpractice, railroad, insurance, and product liability cases. A dogged litigator who prepared meticulously, upon his departure the firm (humorously) recognized him for breaking all records for hours worked – the most ever billed in a day, in a week, in a year, and in a career. A full size 14 as an adult, he made his own shoes and then filled them.

Beyond work and family, Judge DuBois volunteered in the Philadelphia community, where he was notably active in the Philadelphia Bar Association and served as President of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel. He served as Master Emeritus of the Temple American Inn of Court and sat on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, and the Academy of Advocacy of Temple University James L. Beasley School of Law.

Bud enjoyed sailing and the beach, tennis, good food, and social time with his longtime college and law school friends including Mark Bernstein, the Hon. Edward Becker, and Senator Arlen Spector.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, the former Ruth Harberg, with whom he established a family boasting four generations who love him dearly. More the centerboard to Ruth’s daily sails and rudder, they raised four children: Marc, Jon (Heidi), Peter (Ann), and Pam (Eric); nine grandchildren (Kristin, Heather, Ben, Alice, Andrew, Olivia, Emma, Samuel, and Guy) and four great grandchildren (Zak, Findlay, Robin, and Edith). He was predeceased by his sister Annabel “Bunchy” Gertner.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made supporting the Jewish Family and Children’s Service (JFCS) of Greater Philadelphia, www.jfcsphilly.org or a charity of your choice. A Memorial Service will take place at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel located at 8339 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027, on Monday June 15, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. and a reception to follow.