Charnelle Bjelkengren facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charnelle Bjelkengren
Bjelkengren in 2023
Judge of Spokane County Superior Court
Incumbent
Assumed office April 10, 2019
Appointed by	Jay Inslee
Preceded by	James Triplet
Personal details
Pronunciation	BELL-ken-gren
Born	Charnelle Marie Bjelkengren 1975 (age 49–50) Great Lakes, Illinois, U.S.
Education	Minnesota State University, Mankato (BA) Gonzaga University (JD)

Charnelle Marie Bjelkengren (born in 1975) is an American lawyer and a judge. She has served as a judge for the Spokane County Superior Court since 2019. Before this, she was considered for a very important job as a United States district judge.

Charnelle Bjelkengren's Education

Charnelle Bjelkengren worked hard in school. She earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1997. She got this degree from Mankato State University, which is now called Minnesota State University. She graduated with honors, meaning she did very well.

Later, she went to law school. In 2000, she earned her law degree, called a Juris Doctor (JD). She got this degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. These degrees helped her become a lawyer and later a judge.

Charnelle Bjelkengren's Career Path

Charnelle Bjelkengren has had an interesting career in law. From 2001 to 2003, and again from 2004 to 2013, she worked for the state of Washington. She was an assistant attorney general. This means she was a lawyer who worked for the government, helping to represent the state in legal matters.

Serving as a Judge

From 2013 to 2019, she took on a different role. She became an administrative law judge for Washington State. An administrative law judge makes decisions in cases that involve government rules and agencies. It's like being a judge, but for specific types of government issues.

Since 2019, Charnelle Bjelkengren has been a judge on the Spokane County Superior Court. In this role, she hears many different kinds of cases. These can include criminal cases, civil disputes, and family law matters.

Nomination for Federal Judge

In 2022, President Joe Biden chose Charnelle Bjelkengren for a very important position. He nominated her to become a United States district judge. This is a type of judge who works for the federal government, not just a state. They handle cases that involve federal laws.

The process for becoming a federal judge is very detailed. The President nominates someone, and then the United States Senate must approve them. A hearing was held where senators asked her questions about her experience and legal knowledge.

After the hearing, her nomination was sent back to the President. This means the Senate did not approve her for the position at that time. She was nominated again in January 2023. However, in January 2024, Charnelle Bjelkengren decided to withdraw her name from consideration. This means she chose not to pursue the federal judge position.

See also

• Joe Biden judicial appointment controversies