Judge Rendell tells of career, family

Marjorie Rendell's last name gives people an idea about who she might be married to. But it doesn't say anything about who she is. Rendell, better known as "Midge," is a successful federal appeals-court judge and University Trustee, and is widely known as the wife of Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell. She visited campus last night as the November speaker for the monthly Women in Leadership Series. Rendell discussed her own career as a lawyer and later as a judge, and answered questions from audience members about female leadership. More than 50 people attended the lecture in Logan Hall's Terrace Room; all but one were female. After finishing law school at Villanova University, Rendell joined the law firm of Duane, Morris and Heckshcer, where she rose to become the firm's second female partner. In 1994, Rendell became a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, based in Philadelphia. In November 1997, she was elevated to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Because it was difficult balancing her career and her family, she said, it was sometimes tempting to leave her position as a lawyer. However, she feared that if she quit, it would set a bad example for other women. "I just was not going to give in," Rendell said. She also noted the importance of getting help from others, saying that "my husband was extremely supportive at every turn." Working at a law firm was very difficult for Rendell because ideas like "nurturing" and the "family experience" were of little importance in the largely masculine legal world, she said. She added that such ideas, however, are more readily accepted in the professional world in general today. While she occasionally encountered blatantly sexist treatment from lawyers and judges, Rendell said that most opposition she encountered stemmed from the fact that she was young, not that she was female. She advised women that the best way to handle sexist opposition is not to "take yourself too seriously" while showing that "you are serious of purpose," noting that simply becoming angry with those who act inappropriately will have little benefit. Rendell emphasized the unique role that women play in families as mothers, and explained that taking one or two years off to take care of children will not make a difference in the larger scheme of a woman's career. The couple have a son, Jesse, who is a College freshman. College freshman Samantha Cohen said that Rendell's talk was "very inspirational because she has a family" as well as a career. The judge provided "some really good advice," added Cohen, who aspires to become a lawyer and judge in the future. College senior Rachael Goldfarb, one of six undergraduate students who created the Women in Leadership Series last January, said she found Rendell's lecture exciting "particularly because she talked about her personal life." Goldfarb said having both a career and a family presents "real challenges," and called Rendell "quite admirable." The lecture series was started "because we really felt that women needed to be supported in order to have leadership positions" at the University, noting that such positions exist but are often not taken advantage of by women.