Marjorie Rendell

Marjorie "Midge" Rendell (née Osterlund; born February 13, 1947) 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.[1] In 2003, she was named to the PoliticsPA list of "Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women".[2]

Marjorie Rendell
Rendell in 2016
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Assumed office
July 1, 2015
First Lady of Pennsylvania
In role
January 21, 2003 – January 18, 2011
GovernorEd Rendell
Preceded byKatherine Schweiker
Succeeded bySusan Corbett
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
In office
September 29, 1997 – July 1, 2015
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded byWilliam D. Hutchinson
Succeeded byStephanos Bibas
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In office
February 11, 1994 – November 20, 1997
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded byLouis Bechtle
Succeeded bySeat abolished
First Lady of Philadelphia
In role
January 6, 1992 – January 3, 2000
Preceded byVelma Goode
Succeeded byNaomi Post
Personal details
Born
Marjorie Osterlund

(1947-02-13) February 13, 1947
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1971; div. 2016)​
    Arthur Tilson
    ​
    (m. 2017)​
    EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BA)
    Villanova University (JD)

    Early life and education

    Rendell was born in Wilmington, Delaware.[3] Her father was employed as a DuPont executive and she attended Ursuline Academy.[4] 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]

    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.[5][6] She also served as a mediator for the United States District Court.[7]

    While in private practice, Rendell experienced sexism originating from both her clients and cohorts.[5] At times, she was called "honey" by her male colleagues and would hide or downplay the existence of her then young son.[5][8]

    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.[5] Her service terminated on November 20, 1997, due to elevation to the court of appeals.[3][5]

    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][9]

    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.[10]

    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.[11] She is also a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.[6]

    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.[12] They have one adult son, Jesse.[13] On September 6, 2016, Ed Rendell announced the couple had filed for amicable divorce.[14] In September 2017, Judge Rendell married Arthur Tilson, a senior judge on the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.[15][16]

    References
    1. Loeb, Pat (2015-01-31). "Former Pennsylvania First Lady Midge Rendell Takes On New Role". Retrieved 2020-10-16.
    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. "The Private School Insider". Delaware Today. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
    5. Gannon, Joyce (29 October 2009). "Judge Rendell reflects on wins, losses for women in legal work". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
    6. Cattabiani, Mario (30 June 2002). "Mysterious Midge Rendell ** As a judge, candidate's wife must remain behind the scenes. ** Election 2002: The Race for Governor". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
    7. "Biography of Hon. Marjorie O. Rendell," Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, last accessed Oct. 31, 2010
    8. "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.
    9. Bull, John M.R. (November 10, 2002). "Rendell's wife couldn't campaign because she's a federal judge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
    10. "Court Tosses FCC 'Wardrobe Malfunction' Fine". 19 News. 21 July 2008.
    11. "Avenue of the Arts - About - Facts About the Avenue". Archived from the original on 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
    12. "Ex-Gov. Rendell Splits With Wife After 40 Years Of Marriage".
    13. Dube, Caroline (June 12, 2003). "Midge Rendell: In a class by herself". Daily Pennsylvanian.
    14. Vargas, Claudia (8 September 2016). "After 45 Years, Rendells to divorce". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016.
    15. "Arthur R Tilson". Geni. 16 May 1943. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
    16. Philly Clout (13 October 2017). "Sims to the left of us, Waxman to the right". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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