Bernice B. Donald
Encyclopedia
Bernice Bouie Donald is a Federal Judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
. The Senate
confirmed her in a 96–2 vote on September 6, 2011. She received her commission on September 8, 2011.
, Donald received a B.A.
from Memphis State University in 1974 and a J.D.
from Memphis State University School of Law in 1979. She was in private practice in Memphis, Tennessee
from 1979 to 1980, then became a staff attorney of the Employment Law & Economic Development Unit, Memphis Area Legal Services, Tennessee in 1980. Donald was an assistant public defender
, Shelby County Public Defender's Office, Tennessee from 1980-82.
from 1984 to 1989. Donald became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. through the Alpha Eta Zeta Chapter (Memphis, Tennessee) in 1983. From 1988-95, she was a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in the Western District of Tennessee.
On December 7, 1995, Donald was nominated by President Bill Clinton
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
vacated by Odell Horton
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 22, 1995, and received her commission on December 26, 1995.
On December 1, 2010, President Barack Obama
nominated Donald for a judgeship on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
to replace Judge Ronald Lee Gilman
who took senior status on November 21, 2010.
The full Senate confirmed Donald to the Sixth Circuit on September 6, 2011 in a 96–2 vote. She received her commission on September 8, 2011.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Kentucky* Western District of Kentucky...
. The Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed her in a 96–2 vote on September 6, 2011. She received her commission on September 8, 2011.
Early life and education
Born in DeSoto County, MississippiDeSoto County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2005 estimate, there were 137,004 people, 38,792 households, and 30,102 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile . There were 40,795 housing units at an average density of 85 per square mile...
, Donald received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Memphis State University in 1974 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Memphis State University School of Law in 1979. She was in private practice in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
from 1979 to 1980, then became a staff attorney of the Employment Law & Economic Development Unit, Memphis Area Legal Services, Tennessee in 1980. Donald was an assistant public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
, Shelby County Public Defender's Office, Tennessee from 1980-82.
Judicial service
Donald was a judge on Tennessee's General Sessions Criminal Court from 1982 to 1988, also teaching as an adjunct professor at Southwest Tennessee Community CollegeSouthwest Tennessee Community College
Southwest Tennessee Community College is a community college operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. It is the result of a 2001 merger between two institutions started by the Regents in the 1960s, the former Shelby State Community College and the former State...
from 1984 to 1989. Donald became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. through the Alpha Eta Zeta Chapter (Memphis, Tennessee) in 1983. From 1988-95, she was a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in the Western District of Tennessee.
On December 7, 1995, Donald was nominated by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee is the Federal district court covering the western part of the state of Tennessee. Appeals from the Western District of Tennessee are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit The United States District...
vacated by Odell Horton
Odell Horton
Odell Horton was a United States federal judge.Born in Bolivar, Tennessee, Horton was a U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1953. He received a B.A. from Morehouse College in 1951, where he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and received an LL.B. from Howard University...
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on December 22, 1995, and received her commission on December 26, 1995.
On December 1, 2010, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Donald for a judgeship on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Kentucky* Western District of Kentucky...
to replace Judge Ronald Lee Gilman
Ronald Lee Gilman
Ronald Lee Gilman is a judge and a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He was nominated to the position by Bill Clinton on July 16, 1997 after the seat had been vacated by Herbert Theodore Milburn...
who took senior status on November 21, 2010.
The full Senate confirmed Donald to the Sixth Circuit on September 6, 2011 in a 96–2 vote. She received her commission on September 8, 2011.