Wilhelmina Wright

Wilhelmina Wright
File:Wilhelmina Wright.jpg
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Incumbent
Assumed office February 18, 2016
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Michael Davis
Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
In office September 27, 2012 – February 18, 2016
Appointed by	Mark Dayton
Preceded by	Helen Meyer
Succeeded by	Margaret Chutich
Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals
In office September 3, 2002 – September 26, 2012
Appointed by	Jesse Ventura
Preceded by	Sam Hanson
Succeeded by	John Smith
Appointed by	Jesse Ventura
Personal details
Born	(1964-01-13) January 13, 1964 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Dan Schmechel
Children	1
Alma mater	Yale University Harvard University

Wilhelmina Marie "Mimi" Wright (born January 13, 1964) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and former Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. She is also a former judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Early life and education

Wright was born on January 13, 1964 in Norfolk, Virginia. Growing up, her mother had to advocate for her to receive equal education due to ongoing resistance to integration. She went on to study literature at Yale University, and got her law degree from Harvard Law School.

Career

Wright served as a law clerk for Judge Damon Keith. She worked at the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, LLP, in Washington, D.C. before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota.

Wright has earned numerous awards during her career, including the Myra Bradwell Award in 2006 from the Minnesota Women Lawyers, the Lena O. Smith Achievement Award from the Black Women Lawyers Network in 2004, the B. Warren Hart Award for Public Service from the Saint Paul Jaycees in 2001, and the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award in 2000.

Wright was appointed to the Ramsey County District Court (Minnesota) in 2000 and to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 2002 by Governor Jesse Ventura, on which she served from September 3, 2002 to September 26, 2012.

Wright was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court on August 20, 2012 by Governor Mark Dayton, with her term beginning on September 27, 2012. She is the first African American woman to serve on the court.

Federal judicial service

On April 15, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Wright to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, to the seat vacated by Judge Michael J. Davis, who took senior status effective August 1, 2015. Her nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 17, 2015, by voice vote On January 19, 2016 the Senate voted 58-36 in favor of confirmation. She received her federal judicial commission on February 18, 2016.

Personal life

Wright is married to Ecolab executive Dan Schmechel. They have one daughter.

External links

• Wilhelmina Wright at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Judge Profile: Associate Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright

Legal offices
Preceded by Sam Hanson	Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals 2002–2012	Succeeded by John Smith
Preceded by Helen Meyer	Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court 2012–2016	Succeeded by Margaret Chutich
Preceded by Michael Davis	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota 2016–present	Incumbent