WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to designate the Clarksburg Federal Courthouse as the “Irene M. Keeley United States Courthouse.”
The legislation, sponsored by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, passed the Senate Tuesday night.
The legislation now heads to the U.S. House for consideration.
Judge Keeley was appointed first female judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia and held the position for 30 years.
“I am thrilled the Senate unanimously passed our legislation to designate the Clarksburg Federal Courthouse in honor of Judge Keeley’s career and her decades of service to West Virginia,” Capito said in a statement. “As the first female judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, and in her 30 years of service on the bench, Judge Keeley has earned a reputation as someone who conducts herself with integrity, consistently demonstrates a thorough understanding of the law, and treats each case before her with fairness and thoughtfulness. I am thankful we have widespread support for our effort to honor Judge Keeley, and appreciate the unanimous passage of this legislation by my colleagues in the Senate. We are one step closer to making this a reality, and I encourage the House of Representatives to quickly pass this legislation.”
“I’m pleased our bipartisan bill to dedicate the Clarksburg Federal Courthouse in Judge Keeley’s honor has unanimously passed the Senate,” Manchin said. “As the former Chief Judge and first woman to serve on the bench for the Northern District of West Virginia, Judge Keeley has inspired generations of legal professionals through her commitment to justice and integrity. This tribute is beyond deserving and I will continue working with Senator Capito and our colleagues to ensure the bill is signed into law by the President.”
Keeley earned her law degree from the West Virginia College of Law in 1980 and served in private practice until she was nominated by President George H. W. Bush in 1992. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year. Keeley took inactive senior status on September 30, 2022.
Full text of the legislation can be found here.