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 "excerpt": "Thomas J. Aquilino, Jr., born 1939, is an American former judge of the United States Court of International Trade, appointed by President Reagan in 1985.",
 "snippet": "Thomas J. Aquilino, Jr., born 1939, is an American former judge of the United States Court of International Trade, appointed by President Reagan in 1985.",
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 "markdown": "# Thomas J. Aquilino, Jr.\n\nThomas Joseph Aquilino, Jr. (born 1939) is an American former jurist who served as a judge of the [United States Court of International Trade](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-international-trade) until he assumed senior status in 2004 and later became an inactive judge subject to recall if needed.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and assumed senior status on December 10, 2004.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Court | U.S. Court of International Trade<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | April 3, 1985 (voice vote)<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> |\n| Senior status | December 10, 2004<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> |\n| Born | 1939 in Mt. Kisco, NY<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Drew University, 1962; J.D., Rutgers School of Law–Newark, 1969<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nAquilino was born in [Mount Kisco, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/mount-kisco-new-york), the son of Thomas J. and Virginia B. (Doughty) Aquilino.<sup>[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2018-10-01/html/CDIR-2018-10-29-JUDICIARY-6.htm)</sup> He earned a B.A. from [Drew University](https://www.edgepedia.org/drew-university) in 1962 and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law–Newark in 1969.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nAquilino served in the [United States Army](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-army) from 1962 to 1965.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> After law school, he clerked for Judge John M. Cannella of the [United States District Court for the Southern District of New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-district-court-for-the-southern-district-of-new-york) from 1969 to 1971.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> He then practiced law privately in New York City from 1971 to 1985.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> From 1984 to 1995, he was an adjunct professor of law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nAquilino was first nominated to the United States Court of International Trade on August 1, 1984, but no Senate vote was held on that nomination.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> He was renominated on February 25, 1985, confirmed by voice vote on April 3, 1985, and received his commission on April 4, 1985.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup> He served as an active judge until assuming senior status on December 10, 2004.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)</sup>\n\n## Personal life\n\nAquilino married Edith Berndt Aquilino, and the couple had three children: Christopher Thomas, Philip Andrew, and Alexander Berndt.<sup>[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2018-10-01/html/CDIR-2018-10-29-JUDICIARY-6.htm)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392821)\n2. [Congressional Directory: Judiciary](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2018-10-01/html/CDIR-2018-10-29-JUDICIARY-6.htm)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States Court of International Trade judges*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Thomas J. Aquilino, Jr.\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/thomas-j-aquilino-jr. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Thomas J. Aquilino, Jr., born 1939, is an American former judge of the United States Court of International Trade, appointed by President Reagan in 1985."
}