Wilhelmina Wright

Wilhelmina Marie Wright (born January 13, 1964) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She was formerly an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, a judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and a Judge of the Minnesota District Court, Second Judicial District (Ramsey County).

Wilhelmina Wright
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Assumed office
February 18, 2016
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byMichael J. Davis
Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
In office
September 27, 2012 – February 18, 2016
Appointed byMark Dayton
Preceded byHelen Meyer
Succeeded byMargaret Chutich
Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals
In office
September 3, 2002 – September 26, 2012
Appointed byJesse Ventura
Preceded bySam Hanson
Succeeded byJohn Smith
Judge of the Ramsey County District Court
In office
2000 – September 3, 2002
Appointed byJesse Ventura
Personal details
Born (1964-01-13) January 13, 1964
Norfolk, Virginia
EducationYale University (B.A.)
Harvard Law School (J.D.)

Early life and education

Wright was born on January 13, 1964 in Norfolk, Virginia.[1] Growing up, her mother had to advocate for her to receive equal education due to ongoing resistance to integration.[2] She went on to study literature at Yale University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree, and received her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.[3][4][5]

Wright served as a law clerk for Judge Damon Keith. She worked at the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, LLP, in Washington, D.C. before joining the United States Attorney's Office in Minnesota.[4] Wright has earned numerous awards during her career, including the Myra Bradwell Award in 2006 from the Minnesota Women Lawyers, the Lena O. Smith Achievement Award from the Black Women Lawyers Network in 2004, the B. Warren Hart Award for Public Service from the Saint Paul Jaycees in 2001, and the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award in 2000.[4]

State judicial service

Governor Jesse Ventura appointed her to the Ramsey County District Court in 2000 and in 2002 he appointed her to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, on which she served from September 3, 2002, to September 26, 2012.[4] Governor Mark Dayton appointed Wright to the Minnesota Supreme Court on August 20, 2012, with her term beginning on September 27, 2012.[3][4] She is the first African American woman to serve on the court.[6][5]

Federal judicial service

On April 15, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Wright to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, to the seat vacated by Judge Michael J. Davis, who took senior status effective August 1, 2015. Her nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 17, 2015, by voice vote[7][8] On January 19, 2016 the Senate voted 58–36 in favor of confirmation. She received her federal judicial commission on February 18, 2016.[5]

Personal life

Wright is married to Ecolab executive Dan Schmechel. They have one daughter.[2]

References
  1. Jones, Barbara L. (August 24, 2012). "Wright: Recognition of this moment is important". Minnesota Lawyer. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  2. Ragsdale, Jim (August 20, 2012). "Dayton's historic choice: First black female Supreme Court judge". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  3. Sepic, Matt (August 21, 2012). "Appeals Judge Wright is state's newest Supreme Court justice". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  4. "Judge Profile: Associate Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright". Minnesota Judicial Branch. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  5. "Wright, Wilhelmina Marie – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  6. Jones, Barbara L. (October 19, 2012). "Wright promises to use her head and her heart on high court". Minnesota Lawyer. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  7. Neely, Brett (April 15, 2015). "Obama nominates MN Justice Wright for federal bench". MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  8. "United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Mary Louise Klas		 Judge of the Ramsey County District Court
2000–2002
Preceded by
Sam Hanson		 Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals
2002–2012		 Succeeded by
John Smith
Preceded by
Helen Meyer		 Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
2012–2016		 Succeeded by
Margaret Chutich
Preceded by
Michael J. Davis		 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
2016–present		 Incumbent
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