Rudolph Randa

Rudolph Randa
Do you have a photo that could go here? Submit it for this profile by emailing us!
Current Court Information:
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Title:	Judge
Position:	Seat #1
Service:
Appointed by:	George H.W. Bush
Active:	8/12/1992 - Present
Chief:	2002 - 2009
Preceded by:	Robert Warren
Personal History
Born:	1940
Home State:	Milwaukee, WI
Undergraduate:	U. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, B.S., 1963
Law School:	U. of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1966
Military service:	U.S. Army 1967 - 1969

Rudolph T. Randa is an Article III federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He joined the court in 1992 after being nominated by President George H.W. Bush. Judge Randa is also a former Chief Judge. His term as Chief Judge started in 2002 and ended August 31, 2009.

Early life and education

Judge Randa was born in 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a graduate of Milwaukee Riverside High School, with honors. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, receiving academic honors and graduating as a distinguished military graduate in 1963. Judge Randa received his juris doctor from Wisconsin Law in 1966. Randa was in the same graduating class as former governor of Wisconsin, Tommy G. Thompson.

Military Service

From 1967 to 1969, Randa served as a U.S. Army Company Commander in Vietnam. Judge Randa served with distinction, earning the Bronze Star, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 5 battle stars, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Professional career

After Vietnam, Randa was appointed to the U.S. Attorney General's Office in Washington. In 1970, Randa returned to Milwaukee. From 1970 to 1973, Randa served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Milwaukee. In 1973, Randa became the Principal City Attorney for Milwaukee. Randa represented the city of Milwaukee in two major civil rights cases filed by individual plaintiffs, the United States Department of Justice and the NAACP alleging a pattern and practice of discrimination based on race and national origin in the Milwaukee fire and police departments. These suits resulted in consent decrees.

In 1975, Randa was elected Municipal Judge in Milwaukee. In 1979, Randa was elected Circuit Judge for Milwaukee County. He was appointed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in 1981. Randa was re-appointed Circuit Judge and re-elected Circuit Judge in 1983, where he served until 1992. He also served tempus semestre on the 4th District Court of Appeals in 1983/1984 and 1984/1985.

In 1992, Judge Randa was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to become a federal district judge in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Randa's nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 11, 1992 on unanimous consent. Randa succeeded Judge Robert Warren.

In 2002, Randa was appointed by Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Renquist to serve on the Codes of Conduct Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference. He served on the Codes of Conduct Committee until 2008.

Notable cases

A notable case on this page needs to be updated.

---

Access to abortion clinics

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin      *[ Unites States, v. George Lyman Wilson, et al.] 880 F. Supp. 6288

In 1995, Judge Randa ruled that the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinics Entrances Act was unconstitutional in banning "nonviolent, physical obstruction of reproductive health services clinics." Judge Randa ruled that Congress could not use its constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate abortion protests, "a private activity wholly intrastate in character, non-violent by description and definition, without any commercial aspect, the control of which historically and traditionally rested within the domain of local and state authorities, and which has no direct effect on interstate commerce but instead affects an activity found by Congress to be within 'the stream of interstate commerce . . .'" Judge Randa's ruling, which contradicted the prevailing view in favor of expansive federal authority under the commerce clause, was reversed on appeal by the Seventh Circuit; a link to that subsequent ruling may be found here.

Rights of foster children

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin      *[ Jeanine B. v. McCallum, et al.] 93-c-0547

In 2001, Judge Randa ruled that children in foster care have enforceable federal rights to a speedy adoption and can sue a state for failing to make them legally available for adoption as required under the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 19997 (ASFA). The ruling was the first to fully examine the rights of children to sue under ASFA and whether those federal rights impose binding obligations on a state.

Minimum markup on price of gasoline in WI

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin      *Flying J, Inc., v. J.B. Van Hollen, Attorney Gen. of Wisconsin, et al. 2:08-cv-00110-RTR

In 2009, Judge Randa ruled that Wisconsin's minimum markup of 9.18% on gasoline as required by the Unfair Sales Act was unconstitutional. He held that the provision creates an illegal restraint of trade in violation of the Sherman Act, and that the illegal restraint was not actively supervised by the State. Judge Randa enjoined the State from further enforcement of the law. Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced that he would not appeal the decision. The Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association ("WPMCA") moved to intervene post-judgment and to appeal Judge Randa's ruling.

Prisoner's rights

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin      *Kristin Flynn, et al., v. Jim Doyle, et al. 2:06-cv-00537-RTR

Also in 2009, Judge Randa ordered that prison officials in Wisconsin's primary female correctional facility must make significant changes in the distribution and administration of medication to prisoners. For years, medication was distributed by correctional officials without medical training in the context of an error-prone system. Judge Randa ordered that Wisconsin must begin using licensed practical nurses or medical personnel with equivalent training to distribute and administer prescriptions. Judge Randa also ordered that correctional officials begin to process medication orders and dispense and administer prescribed medications in a timely, accurate and reliable manner.

Wells Fargo sues Indian tribe for gaming bonds default

United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin      *Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee, v. Lake of the Torches Economic Development Corp. 09-cv-768
In January of 2010, Judge Randa held that a $50 million bond transaction involving the Lac du Flambeau Indian Nation was void because it was a management contract that was unapproved by the National Indian Gaming Commission. Therefore, Judge Randa refused to appoint a receiver to oversee the Tribe's gaming operation and dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

See also

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

External links

• Rudolph T. Randa in Judge's Directory
• Rudolph T. Randa in Wikipedia
• Biography from Federal Judicial Center

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: Robert Warren	Eastern District of Wisconsin 1992–Current Seat #1	Succeeded by: NA