District judge nominated to Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo has been nominated by President Barack Obama to serve in

the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, according to a release from the White House.

“(Restrepo) has displayed exceptional dedication to the legal profession through his work, and I am honored to nominate him to serve on the United States Courts of Appeals,” Obama said.  “He will be diligent, judicious and esteemed additions to the bench.”

Restrepo has served as a United States District Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since June 2013 and previously served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2013.

He was born in Colombia and moved to the United States when he was two.  Restrepo received his B.A. in 1981 from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. in 1986 from Tulane University Law School, then began his legal career as a law clerk at the National Prison Project.

From 1987 to 1990, he served as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and, from 1990 to 1993, he served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In 1993, Restrepo started the law firm of Krasner & Restrepo, where he handled a wide range of criminal and civil matters in both federal and state courts until his appointment as a federal magistrate judge in 2006. During his time on the bench, he has been actively involved in the reentry program in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which is a collaborative effort between the court, United States Attorney’s Office, Federal Defenders Office, United States Probation Office, and community partners to promote the successful reintegration of individuals released from federal custody.

Restrepo has also taught courses on trial advocacy and legal research and writing at Temple University Law School since 1993 and also taught trial advocacy at the University of Pennsylvania Law School from 1997 to 2009.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals is headquartered in Philadelphia and serves Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Virgin Islands.