Irene Cornelia Berger (born September 27, 1954) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Early life and education
A native of Faraday in McDowell County, West Virginia,[2] Berger graduated from West Virginia University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics[3] and from West Virginia University College of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1979.[4][5]
Career
After graduating from law school, Berger worked as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Charleston, where her clients largely were low-income individuals facing domestic, consumer and tenant-landlord disputes.[4] She held that position from June 1979 until January 1982. In February 1982, Berger became assistant prosecuting attorney for Kanawha County.[4] She held that position for more than 12 years. In May 1994, Berger joined the United States Attorney's office for the Southern District of West Virginia as an assistant United States attorney.[4] In July 1994, West Virginia Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed Berger to be a Kanawha County circuit judge.[2][5]
Federal judicial service
On July 8, 2009, Berger was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, to replace David A. Faber, who assumed senior status.[2] The United States Senate confirmed Berger on October 27, 2009, by a 97–0 vote.[6] She received her commission on November 9, 2009.[5] She is the first African-American female federal judge in West Virginia's history.[2]
See also
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first women lawyers and judges in West Virginia
References
- ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees
- ^ a b c d Lawrence Smith, Manchin already seeking replacement for Berger, West Virginia Record (September 17, 2009).
- ^ "Eberly College of Arts & Sciences | Eberly News | WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences honors outstanding alumni". Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
- ^ a b c d President Obama Nominates Irene Berger, Roberto Lange to Serve on the District Court Bench, whitehouse.gov (July 8, 2009).
- ^ a b c Irene Berger at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Irene Cornelia Berger of West Virginia to be U.S. District Judge)". United States Senate. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
External links
- Irene Berger at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Irene Berger at Ballotpedia
