Anne Elise Thompson facts for kids

Anne Elise Thompson (born July 8, 1934) is a very experienced judge in the United States. She holds a special position called a senior United States district judge in New Jersey. She made history by becoming the first female and the first African American federal judge in New Jersey.

Growing Up

Anne Elise Jenkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Leroy H. Jenkins and Mary E. Jackson. Her father was a dentist. Her mother came from Wilson, North Carolina. This town was known for strict segregation in the past. It was also a big market for tobacco.

Education and Early Career

Anne Thompson went to Howard University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1955. Later, she received a Master of Arts degree from Temple University in 1957. She then went back to Howard University School of Law and earned her law degree in 1964.

After finishing her studies, Anne Thompson started her legal career.

• From 1964 to 1965, she worked as a lawyer for the United States Department of Labor in Chicago.
• She then worked as a grant writer for United Progress, Inc. from 1966 to 1967.
• From 1967 to 1970, she was an assistant public defender. She helped people who could not afford a lawyer.
• She served as the Municipal Prosecutor for Lawrence Township from 1970 to 1972.
• From 1972 to 1975, she was a municipal court judge in Trenton, New Jersey.
• Before becoming a federal judge, she was the prosecutor for Mercer County from 1975 to 1979.

Becoming a Federal Judge

On September 28, 1979, President Jimmy Carter chose Anne Thompson for a new judge position. This position was in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The United States Senate approved her nomination on October 31, 1979. She officially became a judge on November 2, 1979.

Judge Thompson was a pioneer in her field. She was the first woman to serve as a federal district court judge in New Jersey. She was also the first African American federal judge in the state. From 1994 to 2001, she served as the Chief Judge of the court. On June 1, 2001, she took on a special role called "senior status." This means she can still hear cases but with a reduced workload.

See also

• List of African-American federal judges
• List of African-American jurists
• List of first women lawyers and judges in New Jersey
• List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

Sources

• Anne Elise Thompson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.