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|image = Wilhelmina Wright 1 (cropped).jpg
|image = Wilhelmina Wright 1 (cropped).jpg
|caption = Wright in 2018
|caption = Wright in 2018
|office = Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]]
|office = [[Senior status|Senior Judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]]
⚫
|term_start = February 15, 2024
⚫
|appointer = [[List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama|Barack Obama]]
|term_start = February 18, 2016
|term_end =
|office1 = Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]]
⚫
|term_end = February 15, 2024
⚫
|term_start1 = February 18, 2016
|predecessor = [[Michael J. Davis]]
|successor = ''vacant''
|term_end1 = February 15, 2024
⚫
|appointer1 = [[List of federal judges appointed by Barack Obama|Barack Obama]]
⚫
|office1 = Associate Justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]]
|appointer1 = [[Mark Dayton]]
|predecessor1 = [[Michael J. Davis]]
⚫
|successor1 = [[Laura Provinzino]]
⚫
|term_start1 = September 27, 2012
⚫
|office2 = Associate Justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]]
⚫
|term_end1 = February 18, 2016
|predecessor1 = [[Helen Meyer]]
|appointer2 = [[Mark Dayton]]
⚫
|term_start2 = September 27, 2012
⚫
|successor1 = [[Margaret Chutich]]
⚫
|term_end2 = February 18, 2016
⚫
|office2 = Judge of the [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]]
|appointer2 = [[Jesse Ventura]]
|predecessor2 = [[Helen Meyer]]
⚫
|successor2 = [[Margaret Chutich]]
⚫
|term_start2 = September 3, 2002
⚫
|office3 = Judge of the [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]]
⚫
|term_end2 = September 26, 2012
|predecessor2 = [[Sam Hanson]]
|appointer3 = [[Jesse Ventura]]
⚫
|term_start3 = September 3, 2002
⚫
|successor2 = John Smith
|term_end3 = September 26, 2012
|predecessor3 = [[Sam Hanson]]
|successor3 = John Smith
|office4 = Judge of the [[District Court of Minnesota|Ramsey County]] District Court
|appointer4 = [[Jesse Ventura]]
|term_start4 = November 2000
|term_end4 = September 3, 2002
|predecessor4 =
|successor4 =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|1|13}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|1|13}}
|birth_place = [[Norfolk, Virginia]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[Norfolk, Virginia]], U.S.
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|education = [[Yale University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Harvard Law School|Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|education = [[Yale University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Harvard Law School|Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
}}
}}
'''Wilhelmina Marie Wright''' (born January 13, 1964) is a former [[United States federal judge|United States district judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]]. She was the only jurist in Minnesota's history to be state district court judge, appellate court judge and state supreme court justice.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Senate confirms Wilhelmina Wright as U.S. judge in historic appointment|url=https://www.startribune.com/senate-confirms-wilhelmina-wright-as-u-s-judge-in-historic-appointment/365849111/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Star Tribune}}</ref> She was formerly an associate justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]], a judge of the [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]], and a judge of the [[District Court of Minnesota|Minnesota District Court, Second Judicial District]] (Ramsey County).
'''Wilhelmina Marie Wright''' (born January 13, 1964) is an inactive [[Senior status|senior]] [[United States federal judge|United States district judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]]. She is the only jurist in Minnesota's history to be state district court judge, appellate court judge and state supreme court justice.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Senate confirms Wilhelmina Wright as U.S. judge in historic appointment|url=https://www.startribune.com/senate-confirms-wilhelmina-wright-as-u-s-judge-in-historic-appointment/365849111/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Star Tribune}}</ref> She was formerly an associate justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]], a judge of the [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]], and a judge of the [[District Court of Minnesota|Minnesota District Court, Second Judicial District]] [[Ramsey County, Minnesota|(Ramsey County)]].


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
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=== Early legal career ===
=== Early legal career ===
Wright served as a [[law clerk]] for Judge [[Damon Keith]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit]] from 1989 to 1991.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Library Research Guides: Wilhelmina M. Wright, Associate Justice 2012-2016: Biography|url=https://mncourts.libguides.com/Wright/bio|access-date=2021-03-30|website=mncourts.libguides.com|language=en}}</ref> In 1991, she began working at the law firm of ''Hogan & Hartson, LLP'', in [[Washington, D.C.]], where Wright took up cases involving U.S. public schools' opportunity, before joining the [[United States Attorney]]'s Office in Minnesota in 1995.<ref name="profile" /><ref name=":1" /> In this position, Wright was an Assistant Attorney for the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, where she took up cases involving illegal economic activity and violence.<ref name=":1" /> Between 2000 and 2002, Wright was involved with the Minnesota State Bar Association Task Force on the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the Minnesota Judicial Council, and the Minnesota Courts Public Trust and Confidence Work Group, as a judge for the Ramsey County District Court.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
Wright served as a [[law clerk]] for Judge [[Damon Keith]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit]] from 1989 to 1991.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Library Research Guides: Wilhelmina M. Wright, Associate Justice 2012-2016: Biography|url=https://mncourts.libguides.com/Wright/bio|access-date=2021-03-30|website=mncourts.libguides.com|language=en}}</ref> In 1991, she began working at the law firm of ''Hogan & Hartson, LLP'', in [[Washington, D.C.]], where she took up cases involving U.S. public schools' opportunity, before joining the [[United States Attorney]]'s Office in Minnesota in 1995.<ref name="profile" /><ref name=":1" /> In this position, Wright was an Assistant Attorney for the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, where she took up cases involving illegal economic activity and violence.<ref name=":1" /> Between 2000 and 2002, Wright was involved with the Minnesota State Bar Association Task Force on the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the Minnesota Judicial Council, and the Minnesota Courts Public Trust and Confidence Work Group, as a judge for the Ramsey County District Court.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />


=== Academic career ===
=== Academic career ===
Wright has also taught others about the law. In Geneva, Switzerland, she worked for International Bridges to Justice training on the rule of law, and in Belgium and other areas in Switzerland she taught judicial selection.<ref name=":1" /> Closer to home, she was a professor at the [[University of St. Thomas School of Law]] and taught judicial accountability in other areas of the United States.<ref name=":1" />
Wright has also taught others about the law. In Geneva, Switzerland, she worked for International Bridges to Justice training on the rule of law, and in Belgium and other areas in Switzerland she taught judicial selection.<ref name=":1" /> Closer to home, she was a professor at the [[University of St. Thomas School of Law]] and taught judicial accountability in other areas of the United States.<ref name=":1" />


== State judicial service ==
=== State judicial service ===
⚫
Governor [[Jesse Ventura]] appointed Wright to the [[District Court of Minnesota|Ramsey County District Court]] in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-08-30|title=Minnesota Supreme Court, Court of Appeals to Swear in Newest Members September 3|url= https://www.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/NewsAndAnnouncements/ItemDetail.aspx?id=138|access-date=2024-05-18|website=mncourts.gov|language=en}}</ref> and in 2002 he appointed her to the [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]], on which she served from September 3, 2002, to September 26, 2012.<ref name="profile" /> As part of this position, Wright was the Special Redistricting Panel Presiding Judge between June 2011 and August 2012.<ref name=":1" />


⚫
Governor [[Mark Dayton]] appointed Wright to the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] on August 20, 2012. She was the first [[African American]] woman to serve on the Minnesota Supreme Court.<ref name="minnlawyer2">{{cite web|author=Jones, Barbara L.|date=October 19, 2012|title=Wright promises to use her head and her heart on high court|url=http://minnlawyer.com/2012/10/19/wright-promise-to-use-her-head-and-her-heart-on-high-court/|access-date=February 22, 2014|work=Minnesota Lawyer}}</ref><ref name="fjc.gov" /> In an August 2012 interview with Minnesota Lawyer Managing Editor Barbara Jones, Wright said she had the opportunity to help the court "reflect the diversity of Minnesota".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Barbara L.|date=2012-08-24|title=Wright: Recognition of this moment is important|url=https://minnlawyer.com/2012/08/24/wright-recognition-of-this-moment-is-important/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Minnesota Lawyer|language=en-US}}</ref> Her tenure began on September 27, 2012,<ref name="mpr" /><ref name="profile" /> and ended in 2016;<ref name=":0" /> in 2014, Wright was reelected and served part of a term that was to end in 2020, but then moved to serve federally.<ref name=":4" />
⚫
Governor [[Jesse Ventura]] appointed her to the [[District Court of Minnesota|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.<ref name="profile" /> As part of this position, Wright was the Special Redistricting Panel Presiding Judge between June 2011 and August 2012.<ref name=":1" />


⚫
=== Federal judicial service ===
⚫
Governor [[Mark Dayton]] appointed Wright to the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] on August 20, 2012. As the first [[African American]] woman to serve on the Minnesota Supreme Court, stakes were high.<ref name="minnlawyer2">{{cite web|author=Jones, Barbara L.|date=October 19, 2012|title=Wright promises to use her head and her heart on high court|url=http://minnlawyer.com/2012/10/19/wright-promise-to-use-her-head-and-her-heart-on-high-court/|access-date=February 22, 2014|work=Minnesota Lawyer}}</ref><ref name="fjc.gov" /> In an August 2012 interview with Minnesota Lawyer Managing Editor Barbara Jones, Wright stated she had the opportunity to help the court "reflect the diversity of Minnesota."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Barbara L.|date=2012-08-24|title=Wright: Recognition of this moment is important|url=https://minnlawyer.com/2012/08/24/wright-recognition-of-this-moment-is-important/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Minnesota Lawyer|language=en-US}}</ref> Her term began on September 27, 2012.<ref name="mpr" /><ref name="profile" /> Her term ended in 2016.<ref name=":0" /> In 2014, Wright was re-elected and served part of her term that was set to end in 2020, but she moved to serve federally.<ref name=":4" />
⚫
In February 2015, Senators [[Amy Klobuchar]] and [[Al Franken]] recommended Wright for the federal bench.<ref name=":3" /> 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, saying he was "confident she will serve on the federal bench with distinction".<ref name=":4" /> She was appointed to the seat vacated by Judge [[Michael J. Davis]], Minnesota's first Black federal judge, who assumed [[senior status]] on August 1, 2015.<ref name=":3" /> Wright was ranked Unanimously Well Qualified for this federal position by the American Bar Association.<ref name=":4" /> After a hearing on July 22, 2015, her nomination was reported by the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]] on September 17 by [[voice vote]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/04/obama-nominates-wright-for-federal-bench/ |title=Obama nominates MN Justice Wright for federal bench |last1=Neely |first1=Brett |date=April 15, 2015 |website=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting%20-%20September%2017,%202015.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 17, 2015|website=www.judiciary.senate.gov|date=17 September 2015 }}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> This made Wright the first African American woman appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.{{cn|date=August 2023}} On January 19, 2016, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] confirmed her nomination by a 58–36 vote, with 14 Republicans voting to confirm her.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-19|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation Wilhelmina Marie Wright, of Minnesota, to be U.S. District Judge)|url= https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1142/vote_114_2_00003.htm|access-date=2022-11-02|website=senate.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> During the confirmation hearing, Klobuchar called the seat vacancy a "judicial emergency".<ref name=":3" /> Wright received her commission on February 18, 2016,<ref name="fjc.gov"/><ref name=":1" /> and continues to serve as a U.S. district judge.<ref name=":1" /> In January 2022, after Justice [[Stephen Breyer]] announced his intention to retire, Wright was mentioned as a possible nominee to the Supreme Court by President [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-27|title=Who's who among some possible top Supreme Court contenders|url=https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-leading-candidates-55b50413244dfa90c87c6d437b5d178e|access-date=2022-01-28|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref> On November 30, 2023, it was announced that Wright would retire from the bench on February 15, 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.startribune.com/judge-wilhelmina-wright-first-black-woman-on-minnesotas-federal-bench-will-retire-in-feb-2024/600323483/|title=Judge Wilhelmina Wright, first Black woman on Minnesota's federal bench, will retire in February|work=StarTribune|date=November 30, 2023|access-date=November 30, 2023|first=Stephen|last=Montemayor}}</ref> On February 15, 2024, Wright assumed inactive [[senior status]], even though she has not obtained the statutory service requirements, 65 years of age, ten years of Article III service, and a total of age and service years equal to 80.<ref name="fjc.gov"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/chambers-contact-information|title=Chambers Contact Information &#124; District of Minnesota &#124; United States District Court|website=www.mnd.uscourts.gov}}</ref>

⚫
== Federal judicial service ==

⚫
In February 2015, Senators [[Amy Klobuchar]] and [[Al Franken]] recommended Wright to be on the federal bench.<ref name=":3" /> 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, stating he was "confident she will serve on the federal bench with distinction."<ref name=":4" /> She was appointed to the seat vacated by Judge [[Michael J. Davis]], Minnesota's first Black federal judge, who assumed [[senior status]] effective on August 1, 2015.<ref name=":3" /> Wright was ranked Unanimously Well Qualified for this federal position by the American Bar Association.<ref name=":4" /> After a hearing on July 22, 2015, her nomination was reported by the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]] on September 17, 2015, by [[voice vote]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/04/obama-nominates-wright-for-federal-bench/ |title=Obama nominates MN Justice Wright for federal bench |last1=Neely |first1=Brett |date=April 15, 2015 |website=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting%20-%20September%2017,%202015.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 17, 2015|website=www.judiciary.senate.gov|date=17 September 2015 }}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> This made Wright the first African American woman appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.{{cn|date=August 2023}} On January 19, 2016, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] confirmed her nomination by a 58–36 vote, and the vote included 14 Republicans.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-19|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation Wilhelmina Marie Wright, of Minnesota, to be U.S. District Judge)|url= https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1142/vote_114_2_00003.htm|access-date=2022-11-02|website=senate.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> During the confirmation, Amy Klobuchar called the seat vacancy a "judicial emergency."<ref name=":3" /> She received her commission on February 18, 2016.<ref name="fjc.gov"/><ref name=":1" /> Wright continues to serve as U.S. District Judge.<ref name=":1" /> In January 2022, following Justice [[Stephen Breyer]]'s announcement of his intention to retire, Wright was mentioned as one of the potential nominees for a Supreme Court appointment by President [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-27|title=Who's who among some possible top Supreme Court contenders|url=https://apnews.com/article/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-leading-candidates-55b50413244dfa90c87c6d437b5d178e|access-date=2022-01-28|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref> On November 30, 2023, it was announced that Wright would resign from the bench on February 15, 2024.<ref name="fjc.gov"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.startribune.com/judge-wilhelmina-wright-first-black-woman-on-minnesotas-federal-bench-will-retire-in-feb-2024/600323483/|title=Judge Wilhelmina Wright, first Black woman on Minnesota's federal bench, will retire in February|work=StarTribune|date=November 30, 2023|access-date=November 30, 2023|first=Stephen|last=Montemayor}}</ref>


== Awards ==
== Awards ==
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Wright is married to [[Ecolab]] executive Dan Schmechel. They have one daughter.<ref name="startribune" /> Wright serves on the American Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Ramsey County Bar Association, the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, and the National Association of Women Judges.<ref name=":1" /> Wright is also a member of, among others, the William Mitchell College of Law Board of Trustees, the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Advisory Council, the Minnesota Lawyer Advisory Board, and the Yale University Council.<ref name=":1" />
Wright is married to [[Ecolab]] executive Dan Schmechel. They have one daughter.<ref name="startribune" /> Wright serves in the American Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Ramsey County Bar Association, the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, and the National Association of Women Judges.<ref name=":1" /> She is also a member of the William Mitchell College of Law Board of Trustees, the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Advisory Council, the Minnesota Lawyer Advisory Board, and the Yale University Council.<ref name=":1" />


== See also ==
== See also ==
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|-
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael J. Davis]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael J. Davis]]}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]]}}|years=2016–present}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]]}}|years=2016–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Laura Provinzino]]}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{MNJustices}}
{{MNJustices}}
{{United States 8th Circuit district judges}}
{{United States 8th Circuit senior district judges}}
{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


Latest revision as of 10:19, 11 November 2024

Wilhelmina Wright
Wright in 2018
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 15, 2024
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
In office
February 18, 2016 – February 15, 2024
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byMichael J. Davis
Succeeded byLaura Provinzino
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
November 2000 – September 3, 2002
Appointed byJesse Ventura
Personal details
Born (1964-01-13) January 13, 1964 (age 60)
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
EducationYale University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)

Wilhelmina Marie Wright (born January 13, 1964) is an inactive senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She is the only jurist in Minnesota's history to be state district court judge, appellate court judge and state supreme court justice.[1] 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).

Early life and education

[edit]

Wright was born on January 13, 1964, in Norfolk, Virginia.[2] Growing up, her mother had to advocate for her to receive equal education due to ongoing resistance to integration.[3] She went on to study literature at Yale University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree and graduating cum laude in 1986.[4] Wright received her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1989.[5][6][7][8]

Career

[edit]
[edit]

Wright served as a law clerk for Judge Damon Keith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1989 to 1991.[9] In 1991, she began working at the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, LLP, in Washington, D.C., where she took up cases involving U.S. public schools' opportunity, before joining the United States Attorney's Office in Minnesota in 1995.[6][9] In this position, Wright was an Assistant Attorney for the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, where she took up cases involving illegal economic activity and violence.[9] Between 2000 and 2002, Wright was involved with the Minnesota State Bar Association Task Force on the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the Minnesota Judicial Council, and the Minnesota Courts Public Trust and Confidence Work Group, as a judge for the Ramsey County District Court.[9][4]

Academic career

[edit]

Wright has also taught others about the law. In Geneva, Switzerland, she worked for International Bridges to Justice training on the rule of law, and in Belgium and other areas in Switzerland she taught judicial selection.[9] Closer to home, she was a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and taught judicial accountability in other areas of the United States.[9]

State judicial service

[edit]

Governor Jesse Ventura appointed Wright to the Ramsey County District Court in 2000,[10] and in 2002 he appointed her to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, on which she served from September 3, 2002, to September 26, 2012.[6] As part of this position, Wright was the Special Redistricting Panel Presiding Judge between June 2011 and August 2012.[9]

Governor Mark Dayton appointed Wright to the Minnesota Supreme Court on August 20, 2012. She was the first African American woman to serve on the Minnesota Supreme Court.[11][7] In an August 2012 interview with Minnesota Lawyer Managing Editor Barbara Jones, Wright said she had the opportunity to help the court "reflect the diversity of Minnesota".[12] Her tenure began on September 27, 2012,[5][6] and ended in 2016;[8] in 2014, Wright was reelected and served part of a term that was to end in 2020, but then moved to serve federally.[4]

Federal judicial service

[edit]

In February 2015, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken recommended Wright for the federal bench.[1] 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, saying he was "confident she will serve on the federal bench with distinction".[4] She was appointed to the seat vacated by Judge Michael J. Davis, Minnesota's first Black federal judge, who assumed senior status on August 1, 2015.[1] Wright was ranked Unanimously Well Qualified for this federal position by the American Bar Association.[4] After a hearing on July 22, 2015, her nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 17 by voice vote.[13][14][1][4] This made Wright the first African American woman appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.[citation needed] On January 19, 2016, the Senate confirmed her nomination by a 58–36 vote, with 14 Republicans voting to confirm her.[15][1] During the confirmation hearing, Klobuchar called the seat vacancy a "judicial emergency".[1] Wright received her commission on February 18, 2016,[7][9] and continues to serve as a U.S. district judge.[9] In January 2022, after Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire, Wright was mentioned as a possible nominee to the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden.[16] On November 30, 2023, it was announced that Wright would retire from the bench on February 15, 2024.[17] On February 15, 2024, Wright assumed inactive senior status, even though she has not obtained the statutory service requirements, 65 years of age, ten years of Article III service, and a total of age and service years equal to 80.[7][18]

Awards

[edit]

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.[6] In 1997, Justice Wright also earned the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award and in 2000, she earned the United States Department of Justice Director's Award for Public Service.[9] In 2008, she joined the American Law Institute, and in 2019 she was given a Diversity and Inclusion Award from Minnesota Lawyer.[9]

Personal life

[edit]

Wright is married to Ecolab executive Dan Schmechel. They have one daughter.[3] Wright serves in the American Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Ramsey County Bar Association, the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, and the National Association of Women Judges.[9] She is also a member of the William Mitchell College of Law Board of Trustees, the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Advisory Council, the Minnesota Lawyer Advisory Board, and the Yale University Council.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Senate confirms Wilhelmina Wright as U.S. judge in historic appointment". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  2. ^ Jones, Barbara L. (August 24, 2012). "Wright: Recognition of this moment is important". Minnesota Lawyer. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Ragsdale, Jim (August 20, 2012). "Dayton's historic choice: First black female Supreme Court judge". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Wilhelmina Wright". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  5. ^ a b Sepic, Matt (August 21, 2012). "Appeals Judge Wright is state's newest Supreme Court justice". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Judge Profile: Associate Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright". Minnesota Judicial Branch. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Wilhelmina Wright at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  8. ^ a b "Wilhelmina M. Wright". Minnesota State Law Library. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Library Research Guides: Wilhelmina M. Wright, Associate Justice 2012-2016: Biography". mncourts.libguides.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  10. ^ "Minnesota Supreme Court, Court of Appeals to Swear in Newest Members September 3". mncourts.gov. 2002-08-30. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  11. ^ Jones, Barbara L. (October 19, 2012). "Wright promises to use her head and her heart on high court". Minnesota Lawyer. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  12. ^ Jones, Barbara L. (2012-08-24). "Wright: Recognition of this moment is important". Minnesota Lawyer. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  13. ^ Neely, Brett (April 15, 2015). "Obama nominates MN Justice Wright for federal bench". MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  14. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 17, 2015" (PDF). www.judiciary.senate.gov. 17 September 2015.
  15. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Wilhelmina Marie Wright, of Minnesota, to be U.S. District Judge)". senate.gov. 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  16. ^ "Who's who among some possible top Supreme Court contenders". AP NEWS. 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  17. ^ Montemayor, Stephen (November 30, 2023). "Judge Wilhelmina Wright, first Black woman on Minnesota's federal bench, will retire in February". StarTribune. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  18. ^ "Chambers Contact Information | District of Minnesota | United States District Court". www.mnd.uscourts.gov.
[edit]
Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
2012–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
2016–2024 		Succeeded by
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