William Fremming Nielsen

William Fremming Nielsen
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Incumbent
Assumed office May 30, 2003
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office 1995–2000
Preceded by	Justin L. Quackenbush
Succeeded by	Frederick L. Van Sickle
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office May 14, 1991 – May 30, 2003
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Robert James McNichols
Succeeded by	Lonny R. Suko
Personal details
Born	(1934-08-08) August 8, 1934 Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Education	University of Washington (BA, LLB)

William Fremming Nielsen (born August 8, 1934) is an inactive senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

Education and career

Nielsen was born in Seattle. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1956 and was a United States Air Force First Lieutenant from 1956 to 1959. He received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Washington School of Law in 1962. He was a law clerk to Judge Charles L. Powell of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington from 1963 to 1964. He was in private practice in Spokane, Washington from 1964 to 1991.

Federal judicial service

Nielsen was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on March 21, 1991, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington vacated by Judge Robert James McNichols. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 9, 1991, and received his commission on May 14, 1991. He served as Chief Judge from 1995 to 2000. He assumed senior status on May 30, 2003, and inactive senior status on May 31, 2024.

Sources

• William Fremming Nielsen at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.