Nancy D. Freudenthal
Encyclopedia
Nancy Dell Freudenthal is a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
. She was also the First Lady
of Wyoming
from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011.
, Freudenthal earned a Bachelor's degree in 1976 from the University of Wyoming
and a law degree in 1980 from the University of Wyoming College of Law
.
law firm of Davis & Cannon. In 1998, she became a partner and held that post until her nomination as a federal judge.
, after the election of Barack Obama
, Freudenthal's husband, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal
, asked her if she would be interested in serving as a federal district judge for Wyoming. Her husband subsequently -- without telling her -- submitted three possible nominees to the Obama administration for it to consider nominating: his wife, another attorney, Ford Bussart, and a state district court judge, Norman E. Young. "I thought about that long and hard, and the question really came down to (was) should she be penalized for having married me," Dave Freudenthal told a local newspaper. "And the conclusion I came down to is that all three of them are qualified, and fortunately, it's up to the president and not me."
In August 2009, the United States Department of Justice
contacted Nancy Freudenthal about the nomination and she was interviewed by Justice Department lawyers on October 5, 2009. Obama formally submitted her nomination as his nominee to the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
on December 3, 2009. Freudenthal would fill the vacancy created in 2006 by Judge Clarence Addison Brimmer, Jr.
taking senior status
. President George W. Bush previously nominated Richard Honaker
for the seat, but he never received a hearing on his nomination.
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
held a hearing on Freudenthal's nomination on January 20, 2010.
The United States Senate confirmed Freudenthal on May 5, 2010 in a 96-1 vote.
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Wyoming and those portions of Yellowstone National Park situated in Montana and Idaho...
. She was also the First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011.
Early life and education
Born in Cody, WyomingCody, Wyoming
Cody is a city in Park County, Wyoming, United States. It is named after William Frederick Cody, primarily known as Buffalo Bill, from William Cody's part in the creation of the original town. The population was 9,520 at the 2010 census...
, Freudenthal earned a Bachelor's degree in 1976 from the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
and a law degree in 1980 from the University of Wyoming College of Law
University of Wyoming College of Law
The University of Wyoming College of Law is the law school of the University of Wyoming and the only law school located in Wyoming. It is situated in the beautiful rocky mountains in Laramie, Wyoming at 7,165 ft. between the Laramie Mountains and Snowy Range Mountains...
.
Professional career
From 1980 until 1989, Freudenthal worked in the office of the Wyoming governor as an attorney for intergovernmental affairs. From 1989 until 1991, she served on the Wyoming Tax Commission, and from 1989 until 1995, she was on the board of the Wyoming Board of Equalization. Nancy Freudenthal has spent much of her legal career working on energy and environmental issues. In 1995, she took a job as an associate at the Cheyenne, WyomingCheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
law firm of Davis & Cannon. In 1998, she became a partner and held that post until her nomination as a federal judge.
Nomination to federal district court
According to the questionnaire that Freudenthal submitted to the United States Senate Committee on the JudiciaryUnited States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
, after the election of 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...
, Freudenthal's husband, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal
Dave Freudenthal
David Duane "Dave" Freudenthal , is an American politician who served as the 31st Governor of Wyoming. A Democrat, he was reelected to his second term on November 7, 2006, and announced on March 4, 2010, that he would not attempt to seek a third term as Governor.-Education and early...
, asked her if she would be interested in serving as a federal district judge for Wyoming. Her husband subsequently -- without telling her -- submitted three possible nominees to the Obama administration for it to consider nominating: his wife, another attorney, Ford Bussart, and a state district court judge, Norman E. Young. "I thought about that long and hard, and the question really came down to (was) should she be penalized for having married me," Dave Freudenthal told a local newspaper. "And the conclusion I came down to is that all three of them are qualified, and fortunately, it's up to the president and not me."
In August 2009, the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
contacted Nancy Freudenthal about the nomination and she was interviewed by Justice Department lawyers on October 5, 2009. Obama formally submitted her nomination as his nominee to the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Wyoming and those portions of Yellowstone National Park situated in Montana and Idaho...
on December 3, 2009. Freudenthal would fill the vacancy created in 2006 by Judge Clarence Addison Brimmer, Jr.
Clarence Addison Brimmer, Jr.
Clarence Addison Brimmer, Jr. is a United States federal judge in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming....
taking senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. President George W. Bush previously nominated Richard Honaker
Richard Honaker
Richard Henderson Honaker is a lawyer in Rock Springs, Wyoming who was nominated on March 19, 2007, by U.S. President George W. Bush to serve as one of three U.S. District Judges for the District of Wyoming. The nomination was given the highest "well qualified" rating by the judicial evaluation...
for the seat, but he never received a hearing on his nomination.
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
held a hearing on Freudenthal's nomination on January 20, 2010.
The United States Senate confirmed Freudenthal on May 5, 2010 in a 96-1 vote.