Susan Richard Nelson

Early life and education

Nelson was born in Buffalo, New York and graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors in 1974 and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Nelson's first job was a camp counselor and waterfront director at Camp Interlocken in Windsor, New Hampshire during the summers of 1973 and 1974.

Career

Nelson's first professional employment was an unpaid internship with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and then as a summer associate with the law firm of Reed, Smith, Shaw & McClay in Pittsburgh from 1977 through 1980.

Nelson was recommended to President Barack Obama for a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota by Senator Amy Klobuchar on November 3, 2009. On April 21, 2010, Obama nominated Nelson to the court, for the seat vacated by James M. Rosenbaum. She was confirmed by the Senate with unanimous consent on December 17, 2010. She received her commission on December 22, 2010. Nelson assumed senior status on December 31, 2021.