Bernice Donald

Bernice Donald
Do you have a photo that could go here? Submit it for this profile by emailing us!
Current Court Information:
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Title:	Judge
Service:
Appointed by:	Barack Obama
Approval vote:	96-2
Active:	10/20/2011 - Present
Preceded by:	Ronald Gilman
Past post:	United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Past term:	12/1995 - 9/2011
Past position:	Seat #2
Personal History
Born:	1951
Home State:	Desoto County, MS
Bachelors:	Memphis State U. '74
Law School:	Memphis State U. '79

Bernice B. Donald is an Article III federal judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She was nominated to this position by President Obama on December 1, 2010 and again January 5, 2011 before she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 6, 2011 and sworn in the following October 20. Previously, she served on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

Early life and education

A native of Mississippi, Donald graduated from Memphis State University with both her Bachelor's and Juris Doctor degrees in 1974 and 1979.

Professional career

• Private practice, Memphis, Tennessee, 1979-1980
• Staff attorney, Employment Law & Economic Development Unit, Memphis Area Legal Services, Tennessee, 1980
• Assistant public defender, Shelby County Public Defender's Office, Tennessee, 1980-82
• Judge, General Sessions Criminal Court, State of Tennessee, 1982-1988
• Adjunct professor, Shelby State Community College, 1984-1989

Judicial career

Western District of Tennessee, Bankruptcy Court

Donald started her federal judicial career as a US Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Tennessee from 1988 to 1995.

Western District of Tennessee

In 1995, on the recommendation of Congressman Harold Ford, Sr., Donald was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The seat had been vacated by Odell Horton. Donald was confirmed to that position by the U.S. Senate on December 22, 1995 and received commission on December 26, 1995.

Later, on December 1, 2010, Donald was nominated by Barack Obama to replace Ronald Gilman on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She was confirmed to that position by the U.S. Senate on September 6, 2011. She was succeeded to this post by John T. Fowlkes.

Sixth Circuit

On December 1, 2010, President Obama nominated Donald to fill the seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated by Ronald Gilman. Of the nomination Obama said, "Judge Donald has shown an outstanding commitment to public service throughout her career and as a District Judge in Tennessee. I am proud to nominate her today for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals and I am confident she will serve the American people with distinction."

A substantial majority of the American Bar Association rated Donald as "Well Qualified" and a minority rated her "Qualified". She had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 16, 2011 and you can find her Hearing Transcript here.

Donald's nomination was returned to the President at the end of the 111th congress. President Obama resubmitted the nomination on January 5, 2011.The U.S. Senate confirmed Donald's nomination to the Circuit Court by a vote of 96-2 on September 6, 2011.

See also

• United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

External links

• Judge Donald's Homepage
• Bernice Donald's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: Odell Horton	Western District of Tennessee 1995–2011 Seat #2	Succeeded by: John T. Fowlkes

This page is missing notable case information.

---