---
title: "Reena Raggi | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/reena-raggi"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Reena Raggi

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: senior
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2002-present
- U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York (interim court appointment), 1986-present
- Elevation to Second Circuit (2002–2018): held the role of a judge before becoming senior in 2018.
- Appointed to the court by President George W. Bush on October 4, 2002, after serving as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
- Judge, District Court, E.D. New York, 1987-2002
- Partner at Windels, Marx, Davies & Ives (1986–1987)
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of New York, 1979-1986; chief, Narcotics Division, 1982-1984; chief, Special Prosecutions Division, 1984-1986
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of New York (1979–1986), including leadership of the Narcotics Division (1982–1984) and Special Prosecutions Division (1984–1986)
- Private practice at Cahill, Gordon & Reindel (1977–1979)
- Law clerk, Hon. Thomas E. Fairchild, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1976-1977
- Law clerk to Judge Thomas E. Fairchild, 7th Circuit (1976–1977)
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

### Education

- Harvard University — J.D. (1976)
- cum laude) — Harvard Law School — J.D. (1976)
- Wellesley College, Phi Beta Kappa — B.A. (1973)

### Additional information

- U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of New York (1987–2002): Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, she was the first woman on the 14-member bench of this district.
- Private practice, New York City, 1977-1979, 1986-1987
- Spouse: David Denton (married 1983)
- Date of birth: 1951-01-01
- Confirmed by the Senate 85–0.
- Second Circuit, which covers New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.
- She presided over notable cases, including the Golden Venture immigration trial.
- Chambers: Brooklyn, New York
- Birth place: Jersey City, NJ

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386671)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386671)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386671)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2649/reena-raggi/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2649/reena-raggi/)
- [Judge Reena Raggi](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386671)
- [Wikidata: Reena Raggi](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7306932)

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