Wilhelmina Wright

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Wilhelmina M. Wright
Image of Wilhelmina M. Wright

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (senior status)
Tenure

2024 - Present

Years in position

0

Prior offices
Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 2
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Successor: Laura Provinzino
Predecessor: Michael James Davis

Education

Bachelor's

Yale University, 1986

Law

Harvard Law School, 1989

Personal
Birthplace
Norfolk, Va.

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Wilhelmina M. "Mimi" Wright is an Article III federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. On April 15, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Wright to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She was confirmed by the Senate to this position on January 19, 2016.[1][2][3]

Wright assumed senior status on February 15, 2023.[4]

Wright was previously an associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court from 2012 to 2016. She was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton and was the first black woman to join the court.[5][2][6][7] She was re-elected in 2014 for a term that would have expired in 2020, had she not transitioned to the District of Minnesota.[8]

Education

Wright received her undergraduate degree, graduating cum laude, from Yale University in 1986 and her J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1989.[2]

Federal judicial career

Possible Joe Biden nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court

On January 27, 2022, United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer officially announced he would retire at the start of the court's summer recess, which typically took place in late June or early July.[9][10] NBC News had previously reported the retirement on January 26.[11] On February 15, Biden announced he would nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson.[12]

President Joe Biden (D) did not announce a list of nominees he was considering. During the retirement announcement, Biden said that: "The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity. And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court."[13]

Wright was mentioned by two or more media outlets as a possible nominee to fill Breyer's seat on the court.[14][15][16] Click here to read more about the vacancy and nomination process.

District of Minnesota

Wright received a nomination to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota on April 15, 2015, from President Barack Obama.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Wilhelmina Wright
Court: District of Minnesota
Progress
Confirmed 279 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: April 15, 2015
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: July 22, 2015
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: September 18, 2015 
ApprovedAConfirmed: January 19, 2016
ApprovedAVote: 58-36

Obama commented on the nomination:

“ I am proud to nominate Justice Wilhelmina Marie Wright to serve on the United States District Court bench. She has a long and distinguished record of service, and I am confident she will serve on the federal bench with distinction.[1][17] ”

The American Bar Association rated Wright Unanimously Well Qualified for the position.[18] The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Wright on July 22, 2015.[19]

Her nomination was reported to the full U.S. Senate on September 17, 2015. Her nomination was confirmed on January 19, 2016, by a vote of 58 to 36.[20][3]

Professional career

Elections

2014

See also: Minnesota judicial elections, 2014
Wright ran for re-election to the supreme court.
General: She defeated John Hancock in the general election on November 4, 2014, receiving 56.8 percent of the vote. [8] 

2010

Wright was re-elected to the court of appeals after running unopposed.[22]

See also: Minnesota judicial elections, 2010

Awards and associations

Note: The awards and associations below are listed as they appeared on Wright's 2015 questionnaire for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Awards

  • 2014: George Family Foundation, Exceptional Women Leaders Honoree
  • 2013: College of Saint Venedict and Saint John's University Alumni, Fedelis Apparitor Award
  • 2012: Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, President's Award
  • 2011: Girl Scout Council of River Valleys, Women of Distinction Award
  • 2006: Minnesota Women Lawyers, Myra Bradwell Award
  • 2004: Minnesota Black Women Lawyers Network, Lena O. Smith Achievement Awards
  • 2003: Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Annual Gala Honoree
  • 2001: Saint Paul Jaycees, B. Warren Hart Award for Public Service
  • 2000: Minnesota Jaycees, Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award
  • 2000: United States Department of Justice, Director's Award for Public Service
  • 1997: United States Department of Justice, Special Achievement Award
  • 1988-1989: Executive editor, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
  • 1987-1988: Editorial board, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
  • 1986: Yale University Anne Warner Award
  • 1985-1986: Aurelian Honor Society

Associations

  • 2014-Present: Board of trustees, Saint Paul Academy and Summit School
  • 2013-Present: Tocqueville Society Cabinet, Twin Cities United Way Tocqueville Society
  • 2012-Present: International Women's Forum Minnesota
  • 2012-Present: Project Home Shelter volunteer
  • 2010-2012: Board of directors, Mardag Foundation
  • 2009-2013: Advisory council, University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
  • 2008-Present: Board of advisors, Green Bag Almanac
  • 2008-2010: International Bridges to Justice
  • 2008, 2010: Justice Makers Competition Judge
  • 2008-2009: Expert panel
  • 2008-2009: Volunteer on eLearning to Accreditation Rule of Law Project
  • 2008-2009: "Ethical Leadership in Social Justice" Curriculum Development and Literature Review, University of Saint Thomas School of Law
  • 2005-2011: Board of trustees, Saint Paul Academy and Summit School
  • 2003-2014: Minneapolis-Saint Paul Chapter of The Links, Inc.
  • 2002-2008: Board of directors, Mardag Foundation
  • 2004-2008: Secretary
  • 2002-2010: Board of trustees, William Mitchell College of Law
  • 2004: Secretary
  • 2002: Hamline University Women in Leadership Council
  • 2001-Present: Town and Country Club
  • 2001-2010: Advisory board, Minnesota Lawyer
  • 2000-2002: Jack & Jill of America, Minneapolis Chapter
  • 1996-2003: Board of directors, Girl Scout Council of Saint Croix Valley
  • 2001-2003: Nominating Committee
  • 1999-2000: For All the Girls Campaign
  • 1998-1999: Secretary
  • 1998-2000: CEO Performance Review Committee
  • 1997: Chairperson, CEO Selection Committee
  • 1997-1999: Saint Paul Public Schools Graduate Standards Advisory Committee
  • 1996-2003: Board of directors, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
  • 1997-2003: Governance committee
  • 1996-1997: Marketing committee
  • 1996-2003: Saint Paul Jaycees
  • 1996-1998: Clare House volunteer
  • 1991-2001: Board of directors, Federal Bar Association of Minnesota
  • 1990-1991: Board of directors, Yale Alumni Association of Michigan[21]

See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The White House, "President Obama Nominates Justice Wilhelmina Marie Wright to Serve on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota," April 15, 2015
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Federal Judicial Center, "Wright, Wilhelmina Marie," accessed January 21, 2016 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "bio" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Congress.gov, "PN367 — Wilhelmina Marie Wright — The Judiciary," accessed January 21, 2016
  4. ↑ United States Courts, "Future Judicial Vacancies," accessed November 30, 2023
  5. ↑ Minnesota Judicial Branch, "Wilhelmina Wright appointed to Minnesota Supreme Court," August 20, 2012
  6. ↑ The Pioneer Press, "Minnesota Supreme Court: Wilhelmina Wright becomes first female African-American justice," October 17, 2012
  7. ↑ Judges appointed by Mark Dayton
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 7, 2014
  9. ↑ United States Supreme Court, "Letter to President," January 27, 2022
  10. ↑ YouTube, "President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer," January 27, 2022
  11. ↑ NBC News, "Justice Stephen Breyer to retire from Supreme Court, paving way for Biden appointment," January 26, 2022
  12. ↑ White House, "President Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court," February 25, 2022
  13. ↑ YouTube, "President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer," January 27, 2022
  14. ↑ CBS News, "Biden weighing more than a dozen candidates for Supreme Court vacancy," January 31, 2022
  15. ↑ USA Today, "Biden considers Judge J. Michelle Childs and may cast wider net for Supreme Court vacancy," January 29, 2022
  16. ↑ CNN, "Biden said he'd put a Black woman on the Supreme Court. Here's who he may pick to replace Breyer," January 26, 2022
  17. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  18. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 114th Congress," accessed July 23, 2015
  19. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," July 22, 2015
  20. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting - September 17, 2015," accessed September 18, 2015
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees," accessed July 23, 2015
  22. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State Offices," accessed January 10, 2012

Political offices
Preceded by
Michael James Davis 		United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
2016-2024		 Succeeded by
Laura Provinzino
Preceded by
- 		Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 2
2012-2016		 Succeeded by
-

Minnesota courts

Federal courts:

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Minnesota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Minnesota

State courts:

Minnesota Supreme Court • Minnesota Court of Appeals • Minnesota District Courts • Minnesota Problem-Solving Courts • Minnesota Tax Court • Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals

State resources:

Courts in Minnesota • Minnesota judicial elections • Judicial selection in Minnesota

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