Johnnie B. Rawlinson
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Blakeney Rawlinson (born December 16, 1952) is a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
.
, where she earned her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
in 1974. She graduated with distinction from the McGeorge School of Law
at the University of the Pacific, receiving her J.D.
in 1979.
She had served as deputy district attorney and chief deputy for over 17 years in the office of the Clark County District Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada
, as well as receiving law practice as a clerk at Kiefer Clark & O'Reilly and other legal services throughout the United States
prior to her appointments. She served as a United States district judge after being nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate
in 1997. She was the first female judge to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
.
on February 22, 2000, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
after being recommended for the post by U.S. Senator Harry Reid
. Judge Rawlinson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a voice vote on July 21, 2000, making her the final appeals-court nominee to be confirmed during Clinton's presidency. Rawlinson subsequently took the oath of office on July 26, 2000, becoming the first African American woman to sit on the Ninth Circuit.
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
.
Background
Judge Rawlinson received most of her education in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, where she earned her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant university located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college in the state of North Carolina.NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North...
in 1974. She graduated with distinction from the McGeorge School of Law
McGeorge School of Law
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law is a private, ABA approved law school in the Oak Park neighborhood of the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the University of the Pacific....
at the University of the Pacific, receiving 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...
in 1979.
She had served as deputy district attorney and chief deputy for over 17 years in the office of the Clark County District Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, as well as receiving law practice as a clerk at Kiefer Clark & O'Reilly and other legal services throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prior to her appointments. She served as a United States district judge after being nominated by President Clinton and 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...
in 1997. She was the first female judge to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
United States District Court for the District of Nevada
The United States District Court for the District of Nevada is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Nevada. The court has locations in Las Vegas and Reno....
.
Ninth Circuit nomination and confirmation
Rawlinson was nominated by President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on February 22, 2000, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
after being recommended for the post by U.S. Senator Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
. Judge Rawlinson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a voice vote on July 21, 2000, making her the final appeals-court nominee to be confirmed during Clinton's presidency. Rawlinson subsequently took the oath of office on July 26, 2000, becoming the first African American woman to sit on the Ninth Circuit.