WASHINGTON – Federal judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and for the District of New Jersey won final Senate approval Thursday.
Wendy Beetlestone, a Philadelphia attorney and former lawyer for the city's school district, was approved in a voice vote to become a judge in the Eastern District Pennsylvania. Madeline Cox Arleo, a federal magistrate judge from West Caldwell, was also approved in a voice vote to become a federal judge in New Jersey.
Beetlestone, 53, was the Philadelphia School District's general counsel from 2002 to 2005. Since then she has led the education law practice at the Center City firm Hangley, Aronchick, Segal, Pudlin & Schiller. Born in Nigeria and raised in the United Kingdom, Beetlestone earned her law degree from Penn in 1993.
"Beetlestone’s experience as a litigator and expert on education law along with her prior service as a solicitor for the Philadelphia School District will prepare her well for her next role as a federal judge,” Casey said in a joint news release with Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.).
Toomey said "the combination of Ms. Beetlestone's commitment to law and the wealth of legal experience she has gained" in the public and private sector qualified her for the job.
Arleo, 51, has been a magistrate judge since 2000. Before that she was a partner at Tompkins, McGuire, Wachenfeld & Barry, LLP, where her practice focused on civil litigation in state and federal courts. Arleo began her legal career as a law clerk to Justice Marie L. Garibaldi of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1989 to 1990. She received her law degree from Seton Hall University School in 1989 and attended Rutgers as an undergraduate.
New Jersey Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, both Democrats, praised Arleo in a joint release.
"She is a New Jerseyan who — in her life and career — has embodied the qualities of respect for justice and the rule of law we look for in all of our judicial nominees," Menendez said.
Booker said "our state stands to benefit greatly," from Arleo's work in her new role.
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