Irene Berger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irene Berger
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia | |
| Assumed office November 9, 2009 |
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| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David A. Faber |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Irene Cornelia Berger
September 27, 1954 Faraday, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | West Virginia University (BA, JD) |
Irene Cornelia Berger, born on September 27, 1954, is a special kind of judge in the United States. She works as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. This means she helps make important decisions about laws in her area.
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Early Life and Education
Irene Berger grew up in Faraday, West Virginia. This town is in McDowell County, West Virginia. She went to West Virginia University for her college studies. In 1976, she earned a degree in mathematics. After that, she continued her education at the West Virginia University College of Law. She finished law school in 1979, earning a degree called a Juris Doctor. This degree is needed to become a lawyer.
Irene Berger's Career Path
After finishing law school, Irene Berger started her career helping people.
Working as a Lawyer
From 1979 to 1982, she worked as a staff attorney. She helped people who had low incomes. Her work involved solving problems like family issues or disagreements between renters and landlords.
In 1982, she became an assistant prosecuting attorney. She worked for Kanawha County, West Virginia. She held this job for over 12 years. In this role, she helped the government bring cases against people accused of crimes.
In 1994, Irene Berger joined the United States Attorney's office. She worked as an assistant United States attorney. This meant she worked for the federal government.
Becoming a Judge
Later in 1994, the Governor of West Virginia, Gaston Caperton, appointed her to be a judge. She became a circuit judge for Kanawha County. This was an important step in her career.
Federal Judicial Service
On July 8, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Irene Berger. He chose her to become a United States District Judge. This position was open because Judge David A. Faber was retiring.
The United States Senate had to approve her nomination. They voted on October 27, 2009. She was confirmed by a vote of 97 to 0, which means almost everyone agreed she was a good choice. She officially started her job on November 9, 2009.
Irene Berger made history when she became a federal judge. She is the first African-American woman to serve as a federal judge in West Virginia.
See Also
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first women lawyers and judges in West Virginia
