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Wilma A. Lewis
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2025 - Present
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Wilma A. Lewis is a federal judge on senior status with the District Court of the Virgin Islands. She joined the court in 2011 after a nomination from President Barack Obama (D). Lewis was named the chief judge in August of 2013 after the term of Chief Judge Curtis V. Gomez expired. She served as chief judge until April 27, 2021.[1][2] Lewis assumed senior status on February 15, 2025.[3][4][5]
Prior to joining the court, Lewis was the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the United States Department of the Interior, a post she assumed in 2009.[6]
Education
Lewis attended Swarthmore College and graduated with an B.A. in 1978. Lewis received a J.D. from Harvard Law in 1981.[6]
Judicial career
U.S. Virgin Islands
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Wilma A. Lewis |
| Court: District Court of the Virgin Islands |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 120 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: 3/2/2011
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: 5/24/2011
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
 Reported:
|
| Confirmed: 6/30/2011
|
Lewis was nominated by President Obama on March 2, 2011, to fill a seat on the District Court of the Virgin Islands vacated by Judge Raymond Finch.[6] Obama said of the nomination:
| “ | I am proud to nominate these three outstanding candidates to serve on the United States District Court bench. They all have long and distinguished records of service, and I am confident they will serve on the federal bench with distinction.[6][7] | ” |
Lewis was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association. She had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 24, 2011, and you can find her Committee Questionnaire available here and her Questions for the Record available here. Responding to questions from the committee chair, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Lewis stated:
| “ | I have a strong commitment to public service. I will be fair and firm. I want to hear opposing perspectives, and I will set the tone for a courtroom where all litigants will have their day in court.[8][7] | ” |
Lewis was confirmed on June 30, 2011, by a voice vote of the United States Senate. Lewis was the first candidate nominated in 2011 to be confirmed by the Senate.[9]
Lewis was named chief judge in August 2013. The position is a seven-year term granted to the senior-most judge of the court who has not previously served as chief judge. She served as chief until April 27, 2021.[1]
Lewis assumed senior status on February 15, 2025.[3]
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands
- Virginia Islands Daily News, "U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee interviews Lewis," May 25, 2011
- White House Press Release "President Obama Names Three to the United States District Court," March 2, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Virgin Islands Daily News, "Wilma Lewis named District Court chief judge," August 17, 2013
- ↑ The St. Thomas Source, "District Court of V.I. Rotates to Chief Judge Robert A. Molloy," April 29, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 United States Courts, "Future Judicial Vacancies," accessed January 17, 2025
- ↑ United States Courts, "Current Judicial Vacancies," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Congress.gov, "PN292 — Wilma Antoinette Lewis — The Judiciary," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 White House Press Release "President Obama Names Three to the United States District Court," March 2, 2011 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "WHPR" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 7.0 7.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Virginia Islands Daily News, "U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee interviews Lewis," May 25, 2011
- ↑ United States Senate Judiciary Committee, 112th Congress Confirmation materials
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Raymond Finch |
United States District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands 2011-2025 |
Succeeded by - |
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| Active judges |
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| Senior judges | |||
| Former Article I judges | Curtis V. Gomez • | ||
| Former Chief judges | |||
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|---|---|---|---|
| Nominated | |||
