Cohen on Judge Bernice Donald Senate Confirmation Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Bernice Donald to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Donald, who currently serves on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, was recommended to President Obama by Congressman Cohen.

“Judge Bernice Donald has been a superb state and federal justice for more than 25 years,” said Congressman Cohen. “Judge Donald is bright, well respected and admired throughout Memphis and the nation for her integrity and tenacity. Judge Donald dedicated her life to public service and ensuring justice many years ago and will make a great addition to the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. It was my pleasure to recommend her and I’m happy she was confirmed. She will serve our country and Lady Justice well.”

Judge Bernice Bouie Donald is a distinguished jurist with more than 28 years of judicial experience. For the past 15 years, she has served as a United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.

Judge Donald was born and raised in Desoto County, Mississippi. In the 1960s, Judge Donald was one of the first students to integrate Olive Branch High School. In 1974, she graduated from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) and in 1979 she received her law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at Memphis State University.

After graduating from law school, Judge Donald worked briefly as a sole practitioner before accepting a position as a staff attorney at Memphis Area Legal Services, where she provided legal assistance to low-income individuals. In 1981, she joined the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. In 1982, Judge Donald was elected to serve as a judge on the Court of General Sessions in Shelby County, making her the first female African-American judge in the history of Tennessee. In 1988, she became the first female African-American federal bankruptcy judge in the nation when she was appointed to that position by the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Donald currently serves as the Secretary of the American Bar Association.