| Irene C. Berger | |
|---|---|
| Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office November 9, 2009 |
|
| Nominated by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David A. Faber |
| Kanawha County Circuit Judge | |
| In office 1994–2009 |
|
| Nominated by | Gaston Caperton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 Faraday, West Virginia |
| Alma mater | West Virginia University (B.A.) West Virginia University College of Law (J.D.) |
Irene Cornelia Berger (born 1954) is a United States District Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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A native of Faraday, West Virginia in McDowell County, West Virginia,[1] Berger graduated from West Virginia University in 1976 with a degree in mathematics[2] and from West Virginia University College of Law in 1979.[3]
After graduating from law school, Berger worked as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Charleston, where her clients largely were low-income individuals facing domestic, consumer and tenant-landlord disputes.[3] She held that job from June 1979 until January 1982.
In February 1982, Berger became assistant prosecuting attorney for Kanawha County, West Virginia.[3] She held that job for more than 12 years.
In May 1994, Berger joined the United States Attorney's office for the Southern District of West Virginia as an Assistant United States Attorney.[3]
In July 1994, West Virginia Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed Berger to be a Kanawha County circuit judge.[1]
On July 8, 2009, Berger was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a United States District judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, to replace David A. Faber, who had taken senior status.[1]
The United States Senate confirmed Berger on October 27, 2009, in a 97-0 vote.[4] She is the first African-American female federal judge in West Virginia's history.[1]