Johnnie B. Rawlinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnnie Rawlinson
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| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit | |
| Assumed office July 26, 2000 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Melvin T. Brunetti |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada | |
| In office April 7, 1998 – July 26, 2000 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Lloyd D. George |
| Succeeded by | Larry R. Hicks |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Johnnie Mae Blakeney
December 16, 1952 Concord, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | North Carolina A&T State University (BS) University of the Pacific (JD) Duke University (MJur) |
Johnnie Mae Blakeney Rawlinson (born December 16, 1952) is an important judge in the United States. She serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Before that, she was a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.
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Early Life and Education
Johnnie Rawlinson was born in Concord, North Carolina, in 1952. She went to college in North Carolina. In 1974, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She graduated with the highest honors.
Later, she studied law at the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. She earned her law degree in 1979. In 1980, Johnnie Rawlinson and another woman, Viveca Monet Woods, made history. They were the first African American women allowed to practice law in Nevada.
In 2016, Judge Rawlinson earned another advanced degree. She received a Master of Judicial Studies degree from Duke University School of Law.
Career as a Judge
Before becoming a federal judge, Johnnie Rawlinson worked in Las Vegas. She was a deputy district attorney and chief deputy for over 17 years. This means she helped the government bring legal cases against people.
Serving as a District Judge
President Bill Clinton chose Johnnie Rawlinson to be a federal judge. The United States Senate approved her choice in 1998. She became a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. This court handles cases in a specific area.
She was the first woman to serve as a judge on this court in Nevada. She started her work as a district judge on April 7, 1998. She served in this role until July 26, 2000.
Serving on the Court of Appeals
In 2000, President Bill Clinton nominated Judge Rawlinson for a higher court. She was chosen to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This court hears appeals from district courts in several western states.
The United States Senate approved her for this new role on July 21, 2000. She officially became a circuit judge on July 26, 2000. This made her the first African American woman to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Personal Life
Johnnie Rawlinson lives in Las Vegas. Her husband, Dwight Rawlinson, passed away in 2016. They had been married for 40 years.
See also
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first women lawyers and judges in Nevada
