Reena Raggi
Encyclopedia
Reena Raggi is federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
. She was formerly a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
.
from Wellesley College in 1973, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She later earned her J.D.
from Harvard Law School
, where she served as a member of the Board of Student Advisers, graduating cum laude in 1976. Following her graduation from law school in 1976, she served for a year as a law clerk for Judge Thomas E. Fairchild
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
.
She was admitted to the bar in New York
, and joined the Manhattan
law firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel
until her appointment as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
in 1979, serving in that capacity until her appointment in 1986 as Interim U.S. Attorney. Later that year, she returned to private law practice at the New York law firm of Windels, Marx, Davies, and Ives.
appointed her to the federal bench as a U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of New York. She was the first woman to serve on the 14-member bench in the Eastern District of New York and, at 35 years old, one of the youngest Federal judges in the nation. Among the trials she presided over was one concerning the Golden Venture
, a ship carrying around 300 would-be immigrants from China, which crashed-landed on a sandbar off Queens, New York in June, 1993.
President George W. Bush
nominated Raggi for the Second Circuit on May 1, 2002 to replace Judge Amalya Lyle Kearse
, who assumed senior status
. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 20, 2002 by a vote of (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00219) 85-0.
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
. She was formerly a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the entirety of Long Island and Staten Island...
.
Education and background
Raggi earned her B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Wellesley College in 1973, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She later earned her J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where she served as a member of the Board of Student Advisers, graduating cum laude in 1976. Following her graduation from law school in 1976, she served for a year as a law clerk for Judge Thomas E. Fairchild
Thomas E. Fairchild
Thomas Edward Fairchild , was a U.S. federal judge and former politician from Wisconsin. Before his death, he served as a Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit....
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
.
She was admitted to the bar in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and joined the Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
law firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is a prominent New York-based international law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and London...
until her appointment as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York is the chief federal law enforcement officer in five New York counties: Kings , Queens, Richmond , Nassau and Suffolk. The current incumbent is Loretta E. Lynch, who was appointed by President Barack Obama on January 20, 2010,...
in 1979, serving in that capacity until her appointment in 1986 as Interim U.S. Attorney. Later that year, she returned to private law practice at the New York law firm of Windels, Marx, Davies, and Ives.
On the federal bench
In 1987, President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed her to the federal bench as a U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of New York. She was the first woman to serve on the 14-member bench in the Eastern District of New York and, at 35 years old, one of the youngest Federal judges in the nation. Among the trials she presided over was one concerning the Golden Venture
Golden Venture
On June 6, 1993, at around 2 a.m., the Golden Venture — a ship bearing 286 illegal immigrants from China along with 13 crew members — ran aground on Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York after a mutiny by the smugglers. The ship had set sail from Thailand, stopped in Kenya and circled the...
, a ship carrying around 300 would-be immigrants from China, which crashed-landed on a sandbar off Queens, New York in June, 1993.
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominated Raggi for the Second Circuit on May 1, 2002 to replace Judge Amalya Lyle Kearse
Amalya Lyle Kearse
Amalya Lyle Kearse is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and a world-class bridge player.-Legal career:...
, who assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 20, 2002 by a vote of (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00219) 85-0.