The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted to approve the nomination of a former Justice Department environment attorney to be a federal judge in California.
In an 11-9, party-line vote, the panel moved Noël Wise a step closer to confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, a bench where green groups and Democratic-led states frequently file environmental lawsuits.
If confirmed, Wise would bring experience as a former trial attorney in DOJ’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division and as in-house counsel for the major California utility Pacific Gas & Electric.
Wise has also worked in private practice and served as an assistant U.S. attorney in California. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, a law degree from Nova Southeastern University and a master’s degree in law from Stanford University.
