U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas Karen Gren Scholer, in Dallas, TX.

It might be tempting to assume that a federal judicial candidate who had to endure 10 years of false starts to reach the bench must have been controversial or divisive in some way; delayed, perhaps, by partisan opposition over a perceived political slant or concerns over lack of experience.

But the truth is Karen Gren Scholer's decade-long odyssey to become the first Asian-American federal district judge in Texas is a testament not only to her impeccable qualifications, but to the universal respect she's earned from her colleagues on both sides of the aisle throughout her decorated career. There's a reason she also holds the distinction of being the only Texan to be nominated for a federal district court judgeship in two different divisions by different presidential administrations. And it's no fluke that when she finally was confirmed to the Northern District of Texas bench by the U.S. Senate in March 2018, the vote was unanimous.

As Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law who follows federal judicial nominations, told Texas Lawyer shortly after Scholer's confirmation last year: "Everybody likes her and respects her. That's the way to fill vacancies in Texas.''

Last July, Scholer's investiture drew so many well-wishers that she made history again, becoming the first judge in the Northern District whose ceremony needed to be held in a location other than the federal courthouse. More than 700 friends and colleagues, including fellow federal judges from every district in Texas, and state court judges from as far away as Hawaii, were in attendance at the Belo Mansion for the event.

With her first full year as a Northern District judge now under her belt, Scholer, reflecting on her long, strange trip, has a simple rationale for the unprecedented level of support and encouragement she received during that time.

"What I tell young people is…if you go through your career and you are kind to people and you help them and you do the right thing, when it's time for them to help you, they come out in spades," she said.

Of course, it also helps to have a long track record of being very good at what you do.

Scholer was elected to the Dallas state district court as a Republican in 2000 and quickly developed a reputation for fairness and courtesy on the bench. By 2007, she caught the attention of Republican Sen. John Cornyn and former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who interviewed her for a spot on the federal bench in Dallas during George W. Bush's presidency but ultimately gave the nod to Judge Reed O'Connor.

Scholer retired from the state bench in 2009 and became a partner at Jones Day. In 2014, she left to start civil litigation firm Carter Scholer. But in 2016, with the support of Cornyn and Sen. Ted Cruz, she was nominated by President Barack Obama for a seat in the Eastern District of Texas' Sherman Division.

Scholer retired from the state bench in 2009 and became a partner at Jones Day. In 2014, she left to start civil litigation firm Carter Scholer. Still, all the while, she said, she believed federal judgeship was "my calling."

In 2016, with the enthusiastic support of Cornyn and Sen. Ted Cruz, she was nominated by President Barack Obama for a seat in the Eastern District of Texas' Sherman Division in 2016.

But along with that of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, Scholer's nomination was left pending without a Senate floor vote during the final days of the Obama presidency.

In October 2017, however, Scholer was one of 12 pending judicial nominees from red states that President Donald Trump renominated, this time for a vacancy in Dallas.

On March 5, 2018, the Senate confirmed her with a 95-0 roll call vote.

Now, after patiently waiting for so long, it appears Scholer is making up for lost time. As of late July 2019, Scholer had already held over 450 hearings (a particular point of pride for the veteran trial lawyer), authored just shy of 80 reasoned opinions and entered more than 4,600 orders.

While the path to this point was undoubtedly a difficult one, it was necessary, Scholer said, noting the career and life experience she accumulated during those 10 years in waiting.

"I think I'm a better person and a better judge for the journey I traveled for the past decade," she said, adding, "I wouldn't do it any other way⁠—as long as the ending was good."

An awards ceremony will be held on Sept. 18 at the Belo Mansion in Dallas. The Attorney of the Year award winner will be announced at the ceremony.

Click here for booking information. For information about sponsoring the event, contact Andre Sutton at 757-721-9020 or email [email protected].