Wendy Leigh Williams Berger (; born December 1, 1968) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She previously served as a Florida state District Judge of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Education
Berger earned her Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Florida State University and her Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law, where she was a member of the Florida State University Law Review."President Donald J. Trump Announces Twelfth Wave of Judicial Nominees, Twelfth Wave of United States Attorneys, and Sixth Wave of United States Marshals" White House, April 10, 2018
Legal career
Berger spent seven years prosecuting criminal cases as an Assistant State Attorney. Before ascending to the bench, Berger served from January 2001 until May 2005 as Assistant General Counsel in the Executive Office of the Governor, which was during the gubernatorial tenure of Jeb Bush.
State judicial service
In May 2005, Berger was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve as a Circuit Judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit. During her service on the circuit court, Berger presided over the civil and probate divisions (2005–2006) and adult felony division (2006–2012) in St. Augustine, Florida. She was also the presiding judge of the St. Johns County Adult Drug Court Program (2005–2012). On August 21, 2012, Governor Rick Scott appointed Berger to the Fifth District Court of Appeal. In 2016, she was one of three finalists for an appointment to the Supreme Court of Florida.
Federal judicial service
Berger was one of four names sent to Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. On April 10, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Berger to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She was nominated to the seat vacated by Judge John E. Steele, who assumed senior status on June 3, 2015."Ten Nominations Sent to the Senate Today", The White House, April 10, 2018 On October 17, 2018, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for October 17, 2018
On January 3, 2019, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate. On January 23, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to renominate Berger for a federal judgeship."President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Judicial Nominees", White House, January 23, 2019 Her nomination was sent to the Senate later that day."Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, January 23, 2019 On February 7, 2019, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 7, 2019, Senate Judiciary Committee On July 24, 2019, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 55–37 vote."On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Wendy Williams Berger to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida)" United States Senate, July 24, 2019 Her nomination was confirmed later that day by a 54–37 vote.On the Nomination (Confirmation: Wendy Williams Berger, of Florida, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida), United States Senate, July 24, 2019 She received her judicial commission on July 29, 2019.
Professional memberships
Berger is a part of the St. Johns County Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, The Florida Supreme Court Committee on Civil Jury Instructions, the Florida Bar Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, the Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section's Executive Council, the Dunn Blount Inn of Court, and the Federalist Society.
Personal life
Berger lives with her husband, Larry, in St. Augustine with their two children.
References
External links
Official Biography on Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal website