Education
University of California, Los Los Angeles
University of California, Los Los Angeles
Wardlaw earned a bachelor"s degree in communications, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from University of California, Los Angeles in 1976. She received a law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1979. She worked as a law clerk for Judge William P. Gray of the Central District of California and a legal extern for Judge Joseph Tyree Sneed III of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Wardlaw joined the law firm of O"Melveny & Myers in 1980 as an associate, and worked at the firm for sixteen years, the final ten as a partner in the litigation department.
President Clinton nominated Wardlaw to the United States District Court for the Central District of California on August 10, 1995. The Judiciary Committee unanimously approved her nomination, and the Senate confirmed Wardlaw on December 22, 1995, by unanimous consent.
She received her judicial commission on December 26, 1995. She served on the district court until her elevation.
Clinton nominated Wardlaw to the Ninth Circuit on January 27, 1998.
The Judiciary Committee approved her nomination 17-1, and the Senate again confirmed her nomination by unanimous consent on July 31, 1998. She received her judicial commission on August 3, 1998. Wardlaw volunteered for Bill Clinton"s presidential campaign in California during the 1991–1992 election season, and later served on the Clinton-Gore presidential transition team, working with the United States Department of Justice.
She was an elected delegate from the California"s 27th congressional district to the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
In 1993, Wardlaw served on the Executive Committee on Debate Preparation for Richard Riordan"s campaign for Mayor of Los Los Angeles After volunteering for Riordan"s successful campaign, she worked as his Government Liaison during the mayoral transition.