Jed S. Rakoff

Date of Birth: August 1, 1943

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Biography

Jed Saul Rakoff is a distinguished United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, renowned for his incisive rulings and reform-minded approach to the law. Appointed by President Bill Clinton, Rakoff took his seat on the bench on March 1, 1996. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rakoff pursued his undergraduate education at Swarthmore College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1964. He then attended Balliol College, Oxford as a Marshall Scholar, earning a Master of Philosophy in 1966. Rakoff completed his legal studies at Harvard Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 1969. Rakoff’s legal career is marked by his time as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, serving from 1973 to 1980. He then transitioned to private practice, becoming a partner at Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, Alexander & Ferdon, and later at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson. His judicial career is notable for his outspoken views on corporate malfeasance, securities fraud, and the death penalty. Rakoff has authored numerous influential opinions and is often cited for his legal scholarship and teaching roles at Columbia Law School.

5 Interesting Facts about Jed S. Rakoff

1. Jed Rakoff was a Marshall Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford, where he earned an M.Phil. in 1966.

2. Rakoff has taught as an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School since 1988.

3. He is known for rejecting numerous SEC settlements, favoring more stringent penalties for corporate wrongdoers.

4. Rakoff has been a vocal critic of the death penalty and the criminal justice system, advocating for reforms.

5. He presided over the high-profile case involving the collapse of MF Global, a brokerage firm led by former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jed S. Rakoff

1. “The law is not an end in itself, nor does it provide salvation to those who follow it. But it is a means to an end, a way of ensuring that the better angels of our nature are given a chance to prevail.”

2. “A judge is not a legislator; a judge interprets the law as it is, not as he or she wishes it to be.”

3. “Justice has to be more than a word; it has to be an aspiration, a goal, and a reality.”

4. “Corporate fraud is not a trivial crime; it has real victims and causes real damage.”

5. “The essence of the judicial role is to be impartial, yet empathetic; to be firm, yet understanding.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a federal judge, Jed Rakoff’s net worth is not typically disclosed publicly. Federal judges receive a fixed salary and do not engage in activities that would generate a high net worth comparable to figures in the private sector.