Jane A. Restani

Jane Ann Restani (born February 27, 1948, in San Francisco, California) is a senior United States Judge of the United States Court of International Trade. She was appointed to the Court on November 16, 1983, by President Ronald Reagan. She served as Chief Judge of the Court from 2003 to 2010.

Early life and education

Born in San Francisco, California, Restani graduated first in her class in 1966 from Mercy High School, in San Francisco. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969 in political science, cum laude, from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was a member of the Tower and Flame Honor Society. She received teaching credentials in 1970 from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1973, she received her Juris Doctor (fifth in her class) at the University of California, Davis School of Law. She was a law review staff writer in her second year, and articles editor in her third. She was a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Kappa Phi.

Department of Justice career

She was admitted to practice law in California in 1973 and began her legal career in the Civil Division of the Justice Department, where she served as a trial attorney from 1973 to 1976. She served as assistant chief of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division from 1976 to 1980. She served as Director of the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division from 1980 to 1983.

On May 28, 2025, the panel on which Judge Restani sat ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 did not authorize President Trump to impose the Liberation Day tariffs.

Professional honors and activities

Member, Bankruptcy-Consumer and Commercial Subcommittee of the Corporation, Banking and Business Law Committee of the American Bar Association Senior Executive Service Outstanding Performance Rating, September 1981 Civil Division Performance Award, May 1980 Meritorious Award, December 1979 Outstanding Performance Rating, March 1979 Department of Justice Special Achievement Award, October 1976 Attorney General's Special Commendation, December 1975 Guest Lecturer on Debtor-Creditor Law, Antioch School of Law Author, "Bankruptcy," Civil Division Practice Manual