During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in July, Klobuchar and Franken asked Wright to highlight her extensive legal experience and urged their colleagues to support her confirmation 

Senators recommended Justice Wright for nomination in February after she was recommended to them by a bipartisan judicial selection advisory committee; the president officially nominated her in April


WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken today announced that Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Wilhelmina “Mimi” Wright’s nomination to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously. During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in July, Klobuchar and Franken urged their colleagues to support Justice Wright’s confirmation based on her extensive legal experience. The senators recommended Justice Wright for nomination after she was recommended to the senators by a bipartisan judicial selection advisory committee. The president officially nominated her in April.

“Justice Wright is the total package—her breadth of experience, deep legal knowledge and strong character make her highly qualified for the position,” Klobuchar said. “With 25 years of experience spanning the state and federal levels, she is a dedicated public servant who thoroughly understands Minnesota’s legal system. The Judiciary Committee came together in a bipartisan way today to move her nomination forward, and I will continue working toward a swift confirmation.”

“The job of federal judge is one that requires someone with a diverse record of experience, and an unwavering commitment to the fair and just application of the law,” Franken said. “With decades of legal experience and a strong background as a public servant—on both the state and federal levels—Justice Wright clearly meets those requirements. We took a big step forward in the Judiciary Committee today to get Justice Wright seated, and I look forward to continue working on her confirmation.”

If confirmed, Wright would fill the vacancy on the district court bench that arose when Chief Judge Michael J. Davis assumed senior status on August 1. Judge Davis announced his intention to retire from regular active service and continue to serve as a senior judge in a letter sent to President Obama on December 29, 2014.

Wright was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2012. She previously served on the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 2002 to 2012. Prior to this appointment, she served as a trial judge on the Ramsey County District Court.

Before joining the bench, Wright was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, where she represented the United States in complex economic fraud cases and violent crime cases. During her time as a federal prosecutor, she received the United States Department of Justice Director’s Award and the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award. Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s office, Wright practiced with Hogan & Hartson, LLP in Washington, DC. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1986 and her Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1989.

 

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