Rodriguez Appointed by Chief Judge of S.D.N.Y. to U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel

Rodriguez Appointed by Chief Judge of S.D.N.Y. to U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel

On April 1, 2019, Mr. Rodriguez was appointed by Chief Judge Colleen McMahon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York as a member of the U.S. Magistrate Judges Merit Selection Panel.

The appointment of a U.S. Magistrate Judge is an important process.  The Merit Selection Panel is tasked with reviewing the selection, appointment, and reappointment of United States Magistrate Judges, in accordance with the Federal Magistrate Act of 1979.

In the case of the appointment of a new magistrate judge, the function of the Panel is to identify five members of the bar who are best qualified for appointment as magistrate judge. For a reappointment, the Panel appraises the performance of the incumbent magistrate judge and recommends to the court whether the judge should be reappointed to a new term.

Regulations require that scholarship, academic and professional achievement, civic engagement, legal experience, knowledge of the law and the federal courts, and the personal attributes of the candidates will be considered.

At Bleakley Platt, Mr. Rodriguez focuses his practice in the areas of litigation, intellectual property and real estate. Previously, he was the Director of Real Estate for Westchester County, where he negotiated commercial real estate transactions valued at over $100 million.  Prior to his appointment as Director of Real Estate, Mr. Rodriguez represented the County of Westchester in federal and state litigation and appeals.  He has also served as a law clerk to two federal judges, and worked as an intellectual property litigator at a large law firm in New York City.

To read Mr. Rodriguez’s complete biography, click here.