Midge Rendell

Marjorie "Midge" Osterlund Rendell (born February 13, 1947) is a Senior United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and a former First Lady of Pennsylvania.[1] In 2003, she was named to the PoliticsPA list of "Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women".[2]

Midge Rendell
Marjorie Rendell
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office July 1, 2015
First Lady of Pennsylvania
In role January 21, 2003 – January 18, 2011
Governor	Ed Rendell
Preceded by	Katherine Schweiker
Succeeded by	Susan Corbett
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
In office September 29, 1997 – July 1, 2015
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	William D. Hutchinson
Succeeded by	Stephanos Bibas
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In office February 11, 1994 – November 20, 1997
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Louis Charles Bechtle
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Marjorie Osterlund (1947-02-13) February 13, 1947 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Ed Rendell ​ ( m. 1971; div. 2016) Arthur Tilson ( m. 2017)
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA) Villanova University School of Law (JD)

Early life

Rendell was born in Wilmington, Delaware.[3] Her father was employed as a DuPont executive and she attended Ursuline Academy.

Professional background

Private practice

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.[3] Afterward, 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. She also served as a mediator for the United States District Court.[1]

While in private practice, Rendell experienced sexism originating from both her clients and cohorts. At times, she was called "honey" by her male colleagues and would hide or downplay the existence of her then young son.[4]

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 C. Bechtle. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 1994, and received commission on February 11, 1994. Her service terminated on November 20, 1997, due to elevation to the Third Circuit.[3]

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.[3][5]

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 Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson's infamous 2004 Super Bowl 'wardrobe malfunction'.[6]

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.[7] She is also a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.[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.[8] They have one adult son, Jesse.[9] On September 6, 2016, Ed Rendell announced the couple had filed for amicable divorce.[10] In September 2017, Judge Rendell married Arthur Tilson, a senior judge on the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.

References

1. "Biography of Hon. Marjorie O. Rendell," Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, last accessed Oct. 31, 2010
2. "Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from the original on 2004-02-09.
3. "Rendell, Marjorie O. – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
4. "FEDERAL JUDGE MARJORIE RENDELL TELLS PENN LAW WOMEN ABOUT THE "DARK AGES FOR WOMEN IN THE LAW"". Penn Law. Archived from the original on 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
5. Bull, John M.R. (November 10, 2002). "Rendell's wife couldn't campaign because she's a federal judge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
6. "Court Tosses FCC 'Wardrobe Malfunction' Fine". 19 News. 21 July 2008.
7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2010-10-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. "Ex-Gov. Rendell Splits With Wife After 40 Years Of Marriage".
9. Dube, Caroline (June 12, 2003). "Midge Rendell: In a class by herself". Daily Pennsylvanian.
10. Vargas, Claudia (8 September 2016). "After 45 Years, Rendells to divorce". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016.

External links

• Midge Rendell at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Louis Charles Bechtle	Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 1994–1997	Seat abolished
Preceded by William D. Hutchinson	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 1997–2015	Succeeded by Stephanos Bibas
Honorary titles
Preceded by Katherine Schweiker	First Lady of Pennsylvania 2003–2011	Succeeded by Susan Corbett