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 September 27, 1954) is a very important 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 big decisions about laws in her area.
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Early Life and Education
Irene Berger grew up in a place called Faraday in McDowell County, West Virginia. She went to West Virginia University and finished in 1976. There, she earned a degree called a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics.
After that, she continued her studies at the West Virginia University College of Law. In 1979, she earned her law degree, which is called a Juris Doctor. This degree allowed her to become a lawyer.
Irene Berger's Career Journey
After finishing law school, Irene Berger started her career helping people.
Working as a Lawyer
From 1979 to 1982, she worked as a lawyer for the Legal Aid Society of Charleston. Her job was to help people who didn't have much money. She helped them with problems like family issues, money disputes, and disagreements between renters and landlords.
In 1982, she became an assistant prosecuting attorney for Kanawha County. She held this job for more than 12 years. In this role, she worked for the government to bring legal 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 for the Southern District of West Virginia. Later that year, the governor of West Virginia, Gaston Caperton, chose her to be a judge for the Kanawha County circuit court.
Becoming a Federal Judge
On July 8, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Irene Berger to become a federal judge. This meant she was chosen to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. She was nominated to take the place of Judge David A. Faber.
The United States Senate is a part of the U.S. government that has to approve judges. On October 27, 2009, the Senate voted to confirm Irene Berger. The vote was almost unanimous, with 97 votes in favor and none against.
She officially started her new job on November 9, 2009. Irene Berger made history by becoming the first African-American female federal judge in West Virginia.
More About Judges
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first women lawyers and judges in West Virginia
