Education
She graduated with distinction from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1979.
She graduated with distinction from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1979.
Judge Rawlinson received most of her education in North Carolina, where she earned her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1974. She had served as deputy district attorney and chief deputy for over 17 years in the office of the Clark County District Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as receiving law practice as a clerk at Kiefer Clark & O"Reilly and other legal services throughout the United States prior to her appointments. She served as a United States district judge after being nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate in 1997.
She was the first female judge to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.
Rawlinson was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 22, 2000, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit after being recommended for the post by United States. Senator Harry Reid. Judge Rawlinson was confirmed by the United States. Senate by a voice vote on July 21, 2000, making her the final appeals-court nominee to be confirmed during Clinton"s presidency.
Rawlinson subsequently took the oath of office on July 26, 2000, becoming the first African American woman to sit on the Ninth Circuit.