Senate confirms Rawlinson for appeals court

Friday, July 21, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.

The U.S. Senate today confirmed Johnnie Rawlinson of Las Vegas to become the first black woman to serve on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals -- the busiest appellate court in the nation.

Rawlinson, who currently serves as a U.S. District Court judge in Las Vegas, was lauded as a force that will help break up the logjam of cases before the court that represents nine states, including Nevada.

"Judge Rawlinson will make an immediate impact in reducing the backlog of cases which have delayed timely access to Nevadans and others seeking a hearing before the court," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who recommended Rawlinson to the White House in December 1999.

Rawlinson's name was submitted to the Senate in February and she appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in June. Today's action by voice vote capped a meteoric rise from appointment to the federal court bench three years ago to a post on the second highest court in the land.

Rawlinson will become the only active black judge on the court that has 28 filled positions and two vacancies. Appellate judges review cases via three-member panels. They are appointed for life.

"We are extremely happy to have her on the court because she is an outstanding judge who is very well liked in the Las Vegas area -- her fellow judges think highly of her," said Procter Hug Jr., chief judge of the 9th Circuit.

Hug said that Rawlinson's experience as a trial judge will serve her well in her new position.

Reid, who acts as minority whip, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, lobbied heavily for Rawlinson, as he has done in the past. In 1997, Reid nominated Rawlinson, then a Clark County assistant district attorney who had served 18 years with that office in various capacities, to the federal court post.

Rawlinson holds a law degree with distinction from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and a bachelor of science in psychology from North Carolina A&T.