Felipe Restrepo
2016 - Present
9
Luis Felipe Restrepo is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. He joined the court in 2016 after a nomination from President Barack Obama. Prior to his confirmation, Restrepo served as a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.[1]
Early life and education
Born in Medellin, Colombia, Restrepo earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981 and his J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 1986.[1]
Professional career
- 2016-present Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
- 2013-2016: Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- 2006-2013: Magistrate judge, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- 1993-2006: Private practice, Philadelphia, Pa.
- 1990-1993: Assistant federal public defender, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- 1987-1990: Assistant defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia
- 1986-1987: Law clerk, ACLU National Prison Project, Washington, D.C.[1]
Judicial nominations and appointments
Third Circuit Court of Appeals
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Felipe Restrepo |
| Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 425 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: November 12, 2014
|
| ABA Rating: Substantial Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: June 10, 2015
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: July 9, 2015
|
| Confirmed: January 11, 2016
|
| Vote: 82-6
|
Restrepo was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 12, 2014, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit vacated by Judge Anthony Scirica, who elected to take senior status. The American Bar Association rated Restrepo Substantial Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified for the nomination.[2] Under provisions of Rule XXXI, paragraph six of the standing rules of the Senate, Restrepo's nomination was returned to the president on December 17, 2014.[3] President Obama resubmitted Restrepo's nomination on January 7, 2015. Hearings were held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on June 10, 2015, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on July 9, 2015. Restrepo was confirmed on a recorded 82-6 vote of the U.S. Senate on January 11, 2016, and he received his commission on January 13, 2016.[1][4]
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Restrepo was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 27, 2012, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge Anita Brody. The American Bar Association rated Restrepo Unanimously Well Qualified for the nomination.[5] Under provisions of Rule XXXI, paragraph six of the standing rules of the Senate, Restrepo's nomination was returned to the president on January 3, 2013.[6] President Obama resubmitted Restrepo's nomination on January 4, 2013. Hearings were held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 13, 2013, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on March 7, 2013. Restrepo was confirmed on a voice vote of the United States Senate on June 17, 2013, and he received his commission on June 19, 2013. Restrepo resigned from the district court on January 13, 2016, upon his elevation to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.[1][7]
Eastern District of Pennsylvania magistrate judge
Restrepo was a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2013.[1]
Noteworthy cases
Third Circuit vacates judgment over ADA special services in theaters case (2017)
On October 6, 2017, a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit vacated a lower court judgment in McGann v. Cinemark USA Inc. Judge Felipe Restrepo delivered the opinion of the circuit panel.
A plaintiff with a sensory disorder rendering him deaf-blind filed a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act against Cinemark USA. The plaintiff, Paul McGann, requested an American Sign Language (ASL) tactile interpreter to be provided for him so that he could experience a movie playing in his area. Cinemark denied his request. A federal district court entered a judgment in favor of Cinemark, holding that McGann's request did not qualify as an auxiliary aid or service required of places of public accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Further, the district court held that the Americans with Disabilities Act did not require movie theaters to alter the content of the service provided or to offer special services for disabled patrons.
Writing for a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit, Judge Felipe Restrepo vacated the district court's decision, holding that the tactile interpretation was an aid or auxiliary service under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The circuit court remanded the case to the lower court in order to assess a defense raised by Cinemark in the first instance. Cinemark argued that accommodating McGann's request constituted an undue burden as Cinemark would incur significant difficulty or expense to make such accommodations. As the lower court did not reach this argument, the circuit panel sent the case back for further proceedings.[8]
See also
- United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Federal Judicial Center, "Biographical directory of federal judges," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees, 114th Congress," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ United States Congress, "PN 2128 — Luis Felipe Restrepo — The Judiciary," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ United States Congress, "PN 11 — Luis Felipe Restrepo — The Judiciary," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III judicial nominees, 113th Congress," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ United States Congress, "PN 2026 — Luis Felipe Restrepo — The Judiciary," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ United States Congress, "PN 26 — Luis Felipe Restrepo — The Judiciary," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Paul Richard McGann v. Cinemark USA Inc., October 6, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit 2016-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 2013-2016 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominated | |||
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
