Karen Elizabeth Schreier (born 1956) is the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota

United States District Court for the District of South Dakota

The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...

.

Early life and education

Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...

, Schreier earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...

 in 1978 and a law degree from the Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...

 School of Law in 1981.

Schreier worked as a law clerk for South Dakota Supreme Court

South Dakota Supreme Court

The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. It is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices appointed by governor and selected from five different appointment districts. Justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment...

 Justice Francis G. Dunn from 1981 until 1982.

Professional career

Schreier worked in private law practice in Sioux Falls from 1982 until 1993. She then became a United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota in 1993, and served in that capacity until her appointment to the federal bench in 1999.

Federal judicial service

On March 8, 1999, President Clinton nominated Schreier to be a judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota

United States District Court for the District of South Dakota

The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...

 to replace Richard Howard Battey

Richard Howard Battey

Richard Howard Battey is a senior United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota....

, who had taken 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 January 1, 1999. 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...

confirmed Schreier on June 30, 1999 as part of a package of nominees it approved in a 94-4 vote.

Schreier became the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota in 2006.

Sources