| Marjorie Rendell | |
| Office: | Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit |
| Term Start: | July 1, 2015 |
| Office1: | First Lady of Pennsylvania |
| Term Label1: | In role |
| Term Start1: | January 21, 2003 |
| Term End1: | January 18, 2011 |
| Governor1: | Ed Rendell |
| Predecessor1: | Katherine Schweiker |
| Successor1: | Susan Corbett |
| Office2: | Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit |
| Term Start2: | September 29, 1997 |
| Term End2: | July 1, 2015 |
| Appointer2: | Bill Clinton |
| Predecessor2: | William D. Hutchinson |
| Successor2: | Stephanos Bibas |
| Office3: | Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania |
| Term Start3: | February 11, 1994 |
| Term End3: | November 20, 1997 |
| Appointer3: | Bill Clinton |
| Predecessor3: | Louis Bechtle |
| Successor3: | Seat abolished |
| Office4: | First Lady of Philadelphia |
| Term Label4: | In role |
| Term Start4: | January 6, 1992 |
| Term End4: | January 3, 2000 |
| Predecessor4: | Velma Goode |
| Successor4: | Naomi Post |
| Birth Name: | Marjorie May Osterlund |
| Birth Date: | 20 December 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Spouse: | |
| Education: | Villanova University (JD) |
Marjorie May "Midge" Rendell (née Osterlund; born December 20, 1947)[1] 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.[2] In 2003, she was named to the PoliticsPA list of "Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women".[3]
Rendell was born in Wilmington, Delaware.[4] Her father was employed as a DuPont executive and she attended Ursuline Academy.[5] 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.
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.[6] [7] She also served as a mediator for the United States District Court.[8]
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.[9]
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. Her service terminated on November 20, 1997, due to elevation to the court of appeals.
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.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12] She is also a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.
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.[13] They have one adult son, Jesse.[14] On September 6, 2016, Ed Rendell announced the couple had filed for amicable divorce.[15] In September 2017, Judge Rendell married Arthur Tilson, a senior judge on the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.[16] [17]