| Arenda L. Wright Allen | |
|---|---|
| Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office May 12, 2011 |
|
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jerome B. Friedman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1960 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Delroy Anthony Allen |
| Children | Yanni Anthony Allen Nyle Anthony Allen |
| Alma mater | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania North Carolina Central University |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1985-2005 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Unit | JAG Corps |
Arenda Lauretta Wright Allen (born 1960) is a United States district judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The United States Senate confirmed her nomination on May 11, 2011 in a 96–0 vote.[1] She received her judicial commission on May 12, 2011.[2] She formerly worked as an Assistant United States Attorney and a federal Public Defender in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Born in Philadelphia, Wright Allen graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (then called Kutztown State College) with her Bachelor's degree in 1982 and later from North Carolina Central University, School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1985.
Wright Allen started her legal career as a JAG officer in the United States Navy as an active duty officer between 1985 and 1990 and in the United States Navy Reserve between 1992 and 2005. She was an assistant U.S. attorney in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2001 to 2005. Wright Allen joined the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2005, where she had served as a Supervisory Assistant Federal Public Defender until becoming a federal judge in 2011.[3]
On the recommendation of Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner, Wright Allen was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by President Barack Obama on December 1, 2010 to a seat vacated Jerome B. Friedman, who assumed senior status on November 30, 2010.[4]
The United States Senate confirmed Wright Allen on May 11, 2011 in a 96–0 vote.[5] She received her judicial commission the following day.