Judge Profile:

Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright Court of Appeals Minnesota Judicial Center Phone: (651) 297-7650 Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright was appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where she has served since September 3, 2002. Previously she served as a trial judge on the Ramsey County District Court in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is a member of the Minnesota Courts Public Trust and Confidence Working Group and served on the MSBA Task Force on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Judge Wright graduated with honors in Literature from Yale University in 1986. She received her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1989. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Wright was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, where she represented the United States in complex economic fraud cases and violent crime cases in the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She was awarded the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award in 1997 and the United States Department of Justice Director's Award for Public Service in 2000. Before joining the U.S. Attorney's office in 1995, Judge Wright practiced with the Washington, DC law firm of Hogan & Hartson, LLP. In the education and litigation practice groups, she primarily represented school districts across the nation seeking to enhance educational opportunities for public school students. After law school, Judge Wright was a law clerk for the Honorable Damon J. Keith on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Wright is active in her community, serving on the Board of Trustees of William Mitchell College of Law, the Mardag Foundation Board of Directors, and the Ramsey County Community Corrections Advisory Committee. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association of Minnesota, the Board of Directors of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Board of Directors for the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley, the Hamline University Women in Leadership Advisory Council, the Yale Alumni Schools Committee and the St. Paul Public Schools Graduate Standards Advisory Committee. Judge Wright is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Ramsey County Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Minnesota Women Lawyers Advisory Committee, and National Association of Women Judges. She also is a member of the Saint Paul Jaycees and received the B. Warren Hart Award for Public Service in 2001 and the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award in 2000. Judge Wright is married to Daniel J. Schmechel and together they are raising their young daughter. Judge Wright and her family are members of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.

Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright

Court of Appeals

Minnesota Judicial Center
Phone: (651) 297-7650

Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright was appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where she has served since September 3, 2002. Previously she served as a trial judge on the Ramsey County District Court in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is a member of the Minnesota Courts Public Trust and Confidence Working Group and served on the MSBA Task Force on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

Judge Wright graduated with honors in Literature from Yale University in 1986. She received her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1989.

Prior to joining the bench, Judge Wright was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, where she represented the United States in complex economic fraud cases and violent crime cases in the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She was awarded the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award in 1997 and the United States Department of Justice Director's Award for Public Service in 2000.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney's office in 1995, Judge Wright practiced with the Washington, DC law firm of Hogan & Hartson, LLP. In the education and litigation practice groups, she primarily represented school districts across the nation seeking to enhance educational opportunities for public school students. After law school, Judge Wright was a law clerk for the Honorable Damon J. Keith on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Judge Wright is active in her community, serving on the Board of Trustees of William Mitchell College of Law, the Mardag Foundation Board of Directors, and the Ramsey County Community Corrections Advisory Committee. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association of Minnesota, the Board of Directors of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Board of Directors for the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley, the Hamline University Women in Leadership Advisory Council, the Yale Alumni Schools Committee and the St. Paul Public Schools Graduate Standards Advisory Committee. Judge Wright is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Ramsey County Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Minnesota Women Lawyers Advisory Committee, and National Association of Women Judges. She also is a member of the Saint Paul Jaycees and received the B. Warren Hart Award for Public Service in 2001 and the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award in 2000.

Judge Wright is married to Daniel J. Schmechel and together they are raising their young daughter. Judge Wright and her family are members of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.