Adrienne Nelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adrienne Nelson
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon | |
| Assumed office February 23, 2023 |
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| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Michael W. Mosman |
| Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office January 2, 2018 – February 23, 2023 |
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| Appointed by | Kate Brown |
| Preceded by | Jack Landau |
| Succeeded by | Aruna Masih |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Adrienne Camille Nelson
1967 (age 57–58) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Education | University of Arkansas (BA) University of Texas at Austin (JD) |
Adrienne Camille Nelson (born in 1967) is an American lawyer and judge. Since 2023, she has served as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court in Oregon. Before this, she was a justice on the Oregon Supreme Court from 2018 to 2023. She also served as a judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court from 2006 to 2018.
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Early Life and Education
Adrienne Nelson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1967. She grew up in southwestern Arkansas. She finished high school at Gurdon High School in 1985.
When she was in high school, her mother took legal action to make sure Adrienne could be the valedictorian. This happened after the school first chose a different student with lower grades.
Nelson went to the University of Arkansas. She graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied English literature and criminal justice. She earned this degree with summa cum laude, which means "with highest honors."
After that, she attended the University of Texas School of Law. She earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1993. This degree is needed to become a lawyer.
Legal Career
In 1993, Nelson moved to Portland, Oregon, to be closer to her mother. For two years, she worked as an analyst for an insurance company.
Then, she became a lawyer in private practice. From 1996 to 1999, she worked as a public defender at Multnomah Defenders Inc. This is a non-profit firm that helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. She also worked for another law firm until 2004.
From 2004 to 2006, Nelson was a senior attorney at Portland State University. She also taught law as an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School from 2002 to 2005.
Nelson has been involved in many legal groups. She received awards for her public service and work in the legal field. In 2021, a new high school in Happy Valley, Oregon, was named after her.
Judicial Service
Oregon Circuit Court Judge
In February 2006, Governor Ted Kulongoski chose Nelson to be a judge. She served on the Multnomah County Circuit Court. This court handles many different types of cases in the county. She was re-elected for another term in 2012.
Oregon Supreme Court Justice
In January 2018, Governor Kate Brown appointed Nelson to the Oregon Supreme Court. This is the highest court in Oregon. Nelson's first term ended in 2019, but she was elected for a full six-year term later that year.
Adrienne Nelson made history as the first African-American person to serve on the Oregon Supreme Court. She was also the first African-American to serve on any state appellate court in Oregon.
United States District Court Judge
On July 14, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Adrienne Nelson. He chose her to be a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. This court handles federal cases in Oregon.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing about her nomination. After a vote, the Senate confirmed her nomination on February 15, 2023. She officially became a judge on February 23, 2023.
She is the first African-American woman to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Important Cases
On December 10, 2024, Judge Nelson made an important decision. She issued an order to stop the merger between two large grocery companies, Kroger and Albertsons. The government agency, the FTC, wanted to block the merger. They argued that combining the two companies would reduce competition. This means it would give customers fewer choices and potentially lead to higher prices.
See also
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of Oregon judges
