Vicki Miles-LaGrange
Encyclopedia
Vicki Miles-LaGrange is the Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma
. She was the first African American
woman to be sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. She was also the first African American
female elected to the Oklahoma Senate
.
, Oklahoma
, Miles-LaGrange, received a certificate
from the University of Ghana
in Accra
, Ghana
, West Africa
in 1973, and graduated cum laude from Vassar College
in 1974. She then received her J.D.
from Howard University School of Law
in Washington, DC in 1977. There, she was an editor of The Howard Law Journal.
to Woodrow Seals of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
from 1977 to 1979. She was a Graduate fellow in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
from 1979 to 1980, and a special assistant to the African Development Group, Washington, D.C. from 1980 to 1981. She was at the same time a Lecturer in the Women's Studies Program at the University of Maryland, College Park
in 1981. She was a Trial attorney of Office of Enforcement Operations, U.S. Department of Justice from 1982 to 1983. She returned to Oklahoma to serve as an assistant district attorney for Oklahoma County from 1983 to 1986, where she prosecuted sex crimes. She then entered the private practice of law in Oklahoma City from 1986 to 1993, and was during that period an Oklahoma state Senator from 1987 to 1993, making her the first African-American female elected to the Oklahoma State Senate along with Maxine Horner
. She was a U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma from 1993 to 1994.
vacated by Lee Roy West
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 7, 1994, and received her commission on November 28, 1994. She began her service as chief judge in 2008. Judge Miles-LaGrange's preliminary ruling enjoining amendment of the Oklahoma Constitution to prohibit the state's courts from either "considering or using" international law or Islamic Sharia law has attracted considerable attention and has prompted one Oklahoma state legislator to urge Congress to impeach her .
Sorority and currently serves as regional director for the Midwestern Region. She is also a member of The Links, Incorporated. In 2003, Miles-LaGrange was inducted in the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame
.
United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is a Federal district court....
. She was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman to be sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. She was also the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
female elected to the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
.
Early life and education
A native of Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, Miles-LaGrange, received a certificate
Academic certificate
An academic certificate is a document that certifies that a person has received specific education or has passed a test or series of tests.In many countries, certificate is a qualification attained in secondary education. For instance, students in the Republic of Ireland sit the Junior Certificate...
from the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
in 1973, and graduated cum laude from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1974. She then received her 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 Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Howard University. Located in Washington, D.C., it is one the oldest law schools in the country and the oldest historically black college or university law school in the United States...
in Washington, DC in 1977. There, she was an editor of The Howard Law Journal.
Career in government
Vicki Miles-LaGrange served as a law clerkLaw clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to Woodrow Seals of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of Texas...
from 1977 to 1979. She was a Graduate fellow in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1979 to 1980, and a special assistant to the African Development Group, Washington, D.C. from 1980 to 1981. She was at the same time a Lecturer in the Women's Studies Program at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1981. She was a Trial attorney of Office of Enforcement Operations, U.S. Department of Justice from 1982 to 1983. She returned to Oklahoma to serve as an assistant district attorney for Oklahoma County from 1983 to 1986, where she prosecuted sex crimes. She then entered the private practice of law in Oklahoma City from 1986 to 1993, and was during that period an Oklahoma state Senator from 1987 to 1993, making her the first African-American female elected to the Oklahoma State Senate along with Maxine Horner
Maxine Horner
Maxine Horner was one of the first African American women to serve in the Oklahoma State Senate, serving from 1987 to 2005, along with Vicki Miles-LaGrange. Horner held the position of Democratic Caucus Chair, as well as Chair of Business and Labor and Government Operations, and Vice-Chair of Adult...
. She was a U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma from 1993 to 1994.
Federal judicial service
Miles-LaGrange was nominated by President William J. Clinton on September 22, 1994, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of OklahomaUnited States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is a Federal district court....
vacated by Lee Roy West
Lee Roy West
Lee Roy West is a United States federal judge.Born in Clayton, Oklahoma, West received a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma in 1952, a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1956, and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 1963. U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant, 1952-1956...
. 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 October 7, 1994, and received her commission on November 28, 1994. She began her service as chief judge in 2008. Judge Miles-LaGrange's preliminary ruling enjoining amendment of the Oklahoma Constitution to prohibit the state's courts from either "considering or using" international law or Islamic Sharia law has attracted considerable attention and has prompted one Oklahoma state legislator to urge Congress to impeach her .
Personal affiliations
She is a member of Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
Sorority and currently serves as regional director for the Midwestern Region. She is also a member of The Links, Incorporated. In 2003, Miles-LaGrange was inducted in the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame
Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame
Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by Oklahoma Governor George Nigh "to honor Oklahoma women who are pioneers in their field or in a project that benefits Oklahoma; who have made a significant contribution to the State of Oklahoma; who serve or have served as role models to other...
.