Senate confirms Donald to 6th Circuit

The Senate confirmed, in a 96-2 vote, Hon. Bernice Bouie Donald to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this week.  Donald was appointed to the U.S. District Court in Memphis in 1996 by President Clinton. Prior to that appointment, she was the first black female judge elected in the state of Tennessee and the first black female in the United States to be appointed as United States Bankruptcy Court Judge.

Donald received the following comments from lawyers for an evaluation in the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary:  “Her legal ability is good. She is very smart. If she hits the bench prepared she is very good.” “She is an extremely friendly, sympathetic and genuinely nice person who cares about others.” “She manages her courtroom very well. She treats all litigants with respect. She tries to move things along, start on time and be available. She is very calm, methodical and respectful. She wants everyone to do their homework, but she has no quirks.”