Marjorie Rendell

Template:Short description Template:Infobox officeholder Marjorie May "Midge" Rendell (née Osterlund; born December 20, 1947)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is an American attorney and jurist serving as a Senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and a former First Lady of Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2003, she was named to the PoliticsPA list of "Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life and education

Rendell was born in Wilmington, Delaware.<ref name=FJC>Template:Cite web</ref> Her father was employed as a DuPont executive and she attended Ursuline Academy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969 and a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law in 1973.<ref name="FJC" />

Career

Private practice

After graduating from law school, she practiced as an attorney for 20 years as a partner at the Philadelphia firm of Duane, Morris & Heckscher, where she focused her practice on bankruptcy and commercial litigation.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> She also served as a mediator for the United States District Court.<ref name="Kimmel">[1] "Biography of Hon. Marjorie O. Rendell," Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, last accessed Oct. 31, 2010</ref>

While in private practice, Rendell experienced sexism originating from both her clients and cohorts.<ref name=":0" /> At times, she was called "honey" by her male colleagues and would hide or downplay the existence of her then young son.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="PennLaw">Template:Cite web</ref>

Federal judicial service

Rendell was nominated by President Bill Clinton on November 19, 1993, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge Louis Bechtle. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 1994, and received commission on February 11, 1994.<ref name=":0" /> Her service terminated on November 20, 1997, due to elevation to the court of appeals.<ref name=FJC /><ref name=":0" />

Rendell was nominated by President Clinton on January 7, 1997, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated by Judge William D. Hutchinson. She was confirmed by the Senate on September 26, 1997, and received commission on September 29, 1997. She assumed senior status on July 1, 2015.<ref name="FJC" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Notable case

In 2008, Rendell served as a part of a three-judge panel that overturned the Federal Communications Commission's indecency fine against CBS related to the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy.<ref name="Superbowl">Template:Cite web</ref>

Philanthropy

In 1993, Rendell founded and managed Avenue of the Arts, Inc., whose purpose was to develop Philadelphia's Broad Street into a world-class artistic venue. She currently serves as one of the members of the board of directors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She is also a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.<ref name=":1" />

Family

She married Ed Rendell, a future Governor of Pennsylvania, in 1971. On January 21, 2003, Judge Rendell administered the oath of office to her husband after he won the gubernatorial election in November 2002. During her husband's campaigns for mayor and governor, Rendell was barred by the federal judicial ethics code from publicly campaigning on his behalf, as well as from taking part in some fundraisers. On February 7, 2011, a joint email from the couple announced that they had amicably separated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They have one adult son, Jesse.<ref name="DailyPenn">Template:Cite web</ref> On September 6, 2016, Ed Rendell announced the couple had filed for amicable divorce.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2017, Judge Rendell married Arthur Tilson, a senior judge on the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• Template:FJC Bio

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