Nancy Freudenthal
Can you imagine what kind of responsibility it is to be the final word in an issue that has made it all the way to the United States District Court? How much would you have to know? To determine the fate of a life or a way of thinking just by the declaration of your opinion? What kind of temperament would you have? Nancy Freudenthal must have it. And she decides every day.
This position of being a constant role model comes with a different kind of vision. Kindness? Fairness? Values? Are these the ways we would live if everyone were given the right to judge? Well, we are in a sense, always judging. And some people are so discerning, so trusted in their wisdom and knowledge, it’s been sworn as their job. And Nancy Freudenthal seems to like hers. It’s a natural fit. In fact, just as some people would not consider skipping college, Freudenthal simply figured that the next logical step after being a lawyer was to be a judge.
Consequential action is the give and take, the cause and effect, which sets us to the rhythm of our government, our communities, and to each other. That might not be how Freudenthal would say it, but she would consider the statement. She knows that her career decisions have also affected her family and friends, that the choices and commitment she’s made to the justice system have come with their own set of decisions and compromises. Speaking to her, one gleans a sense of balance, a sense of calm, and a feeling that we’re all in this together.
There is a good quality to find in every person, she says. She seems to not divvy up men and women into superficial categories. Her male role models were supportive, teaching, on target and kind. The women in her family were strong and pointed as well.
As for economy, Freudenthal comments that women too have to have the training to do the jobs that are available. All the jobs. In every realm we have to visualize what is ahead and take the steps to achieve it.
"The Honorable Nancy Freudenthal is an outspoken advocate for women’s equality..." says Mona Lee Pearl, who serves with Freudenthal on the Zonta Club of Cheyenne and on Cheyenne’s ATHENA committee. "What is most striking for those that know her is her unflagging humility and her never ending willingness to interact with all people. This characteristic is an important model for women as we move beyond limitations… and attain higher leadership levels. “
Energy and environmental issues have been Freudenthal’s catalyst for thought. She was a partner in the law firm of Davis & Canon before being nominated to federal judgeship. Perhaps the most notorious tidbit of her career springs from partnerships. Her husband, Governor Dave Freudenthal, nominated her along with two others to President Barack Obama for the position of federal judge for the United States District Court of the District Court Wyoming with the missive that "I thought about that long and hard, and the question really came down to (was) should she be penalized for having married me."
After the Justice Department interviews and committee hearings, the United States Senate confirmed Nancy Freudenthal on May 5, 2010 in a 96-1 vote. We’ll truly look forward to seeing what she decides.
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