Arenda L. Wright Allen
Encyclopedia
Arenda Lauretta Wright Allen (born 1960) is a United States district judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
. The United States Senate confirmed her nomination on May 11, 2011 in a 96–0 vote. She received her judicial commission on May 12, 2011. She formerly worked as an Assistant United States Attorney and a federal Public Defender in Norfolk, Virginia
.
(then called Kutztown State College) with her Bachelor's degree in 1982 and later from North Carolina Central University
, School of Law with a Juris Doctor
degree in 1985.
officer in the United States Navy
as an active duty officer between 1985 and 1990 and in the United States Navy Reserve
between 1992 and 2005. She was an assistant U.S. attorney
in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
from 2001 to 2005. Wright Allen joined the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia
in 2005, where she had served as a Supervisory Assistant Federal Public Defender until becoming a federal judge in 2011.
Jim Webb
and Mark R. Warner, Wright Allen was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by President Barack Obama
on December 1, 2010 to a seat vacated Jerome B. Friedman
, who assumed senior status
on November 30, 2010.
The United States Senate confirmed Wright Allen on May 11, 2011 in a 96–0 vote. She received her judicial commission the following day.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia...
. The United States Senate confirmed her nomination on May 11, 2011 in a 96–0 vote. She received her judicial commission on May 12, 2011. She formerly worked as an Assistant United States Attorney and a federal Public Defender in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
Early life and education
Born in Philadelphia, Wright Allen graduated from Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania , is an American public university located in rural Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania and is one of fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary...
(then called Kutztown State College) with her Bachelor's degree in 1982 and later from North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
, School of Law with a Juris Doctor
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...
degree in 1985.
Legal career
Wright Allen started her legal career as a JAGJudge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
officer in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an active duty officer between 1985 and 1990 and in the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
between 1992 and 2005. She was an assistant U.S. attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia...
from 2001 to 2005. Wright Allen joined the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia...
in 2005, where she had served as a Supervisory Assistant Federal Public Defender until becoming a federal judge in 2011.
Nomination to the federal court
On the recommendation of SenatorsUnited 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...
Jim Webb
Jim Webb
James Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Virginia. He is also an author and a former Secretary of the Navy. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
and Mark R. Warner, Wright Allen was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by President 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...
on December 1, 2010 to a seat vacated Jerome B. Friedman
Jerome B. Friedman
Jerome B. Friedman is a United States federal judge. He assumed senior status on November 30, 2010.Born in Newark, New Jersey, Friedman received a B.S. from Old Dominion College in 1965, and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1969. He was a Trust administrator, First Union...
, who assumed 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...
on November 30, 2010.
The United States Senate confirmed Wright Allen on May 11, 2011 in a 96–0 vote. She received her judicial commission the following day.