Medina was nominated by President
Harry S. Truman on May 15, 1947, to a seat on the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by Judge
Samuel Mandelbaum. He was confirmed by the
United States Senate on June 18, 1947, and received his commission on June 20, 1947. His service was terminated on June 23, 1951, due to his elevation to the Second Circuit. He also gave prison sentences to five of the defense attorneys on charges of
contempt of court; among them was
George William Crockett Jr., who later became a
Member of Congress. Medina was the trial judge for the
Dennis v. United States case that reached the federal supreme court. Medina presided over the year-long
Investment Bankers Case in 1951-1952, an
antitrust case against 17 of the most prominent
Wall Street investment banking firms, known as the Wall Street Seventeen. He ruled in favor of the investment banks. ==Death==