Rupa Ranga Puttagunta

Rupa Ranga Puttagunta (born June 19, 1981) is an American lawyer who served as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia from 2022 to 2024. She was previously an administrative law judge in Washington, D.C. from 2019 to 2022.

Rupa Ranga Puttagunta
Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
In office February 25, 2022 – April 12, 2024
Appointed by	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Patricia A. Broderick
Succeeded by	vacant
Administrative law judge of the District of Columbia Rental Housing Commission
In office 2019–2022
Personal details
Born	(1981-06-19) June 19, 1981 (age 43)[1] Lima, Ohio, U.S.
Education	Vassar College (BA) Ohio State University (JD)

Education

Puttagunta received her Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College in 2002, and her Juris Doctor from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2007.^[2]

Career

Puttagunta began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge William M. Jackson of the D.C. Superior Court from 2008 to 2010, as well as the Senior Judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals from 2010 to 2011. She practiced family and appellate law at Delaney McKinney, LLP from 2012 to 2013. From 2013 to 2019, she was a solo practitioner. From 2019 to 2022, Puttagunta served as an administrative judge for the D.C. Rental Housing Commission.^[2]

D.C. Superior Court service

On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Puttagunta to serve as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. On April 19, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Puttagunta to the seat vacated by Judge Patricia A. Broderick, whose term expired on June 5, 2020.^[3] On September 14, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.^[4] On October 6, 2021, her nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote.^[5]

On February 1, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 59–38 vote.^[6] On February 2, she was confirmed by a 57–38 vote.^[7] She was sworn into office on February 25, 2022.^[8] In February 2024, it was announced that Puttagunta would resign, effective April 12, 2024.^[9]

Personal life

Puttagunta is of South Asian Indian descent.^[10]

See also

• List of Asian American jurists

References

1. "Questionnaire for Nominees to the District of Columbia Courts" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. September 14, 2021. p. 65. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
2. "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate 11 Judicial Candidates", White House, March 30, 2021 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. House, The White (April 19, 2021). "Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
4. "Nominations of Tovah R. Calderon to be an Associate Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Kenia Seoane Lopez, Rupa R. Puttagunta, and Sean C. Staples to be Associate Judges, Superior Court of the District of Columbia" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. September 14, 2021.
5. "Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Record" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
6. "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Rupa Ranga Puttagunta to be Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia)". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
7. "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Rupa Ranga Puttagunta, of the District of Columbia, to be Associate Judge if the Superior Court of the District of Columbia)". senate.gov. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
8. "Five New Judges Take Their Place on the Bench in DC Superior Court". DC Courts. February 25, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
9. "Notice of Judicial Vacancy on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia". jnc.dc.gov. February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
10. "Women of diverse backgrounds dominate Biden's first slate of judicial nominees". Al Arabiya English. March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.

Legal offices
Preceded by Patricia A. Broderick	Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia 2022–2024	Vacant