About Julie Rikelman
Julie Rikelman has an awe-inspiring story on top of her impressive experience and credentials. Born in Kiev in the former Soviet Union, she spent her childhood in one of history’s worst totalitarian dictatorships, where every aspect of life and every organization throughout society was controlled by the Communist Party.
Growing up in a Jewish family, she experienced severe religious persecution. When she was six, her family came to the United States as refugees and settled in Brookline, Massachusetts. She learned English and became acculturated, but her childhood in the Soviet
Union helped shape her views on liberty. She has explained, “I definitely grew up thinking about how important it was for people to be able to make personal decisions about their lives for themselves and not have the government make those decisions for them.”
Her background also taught her the importance of fairness, the hallmark of a distinguished judge.
Why We Support Her
Throughout her career, Julie Rikelman has demonstrated a tireless commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of all people. She clerked for the first woman to serve on the Alaska Supreme Court and then in private practice handled cases ranging from medical malpractice to employment discrimination. She’s been with the Center For Reproductive Rights since 2011. Less less than a year ago, she argued in favor of protecting reproductive rights in the Dobbs case.
The First Circuit covers Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. And Julie Rikelman is exactly the kind of judge we need in the First Circuit to bring us closer to the promise of equal justice for all.
How You Can Help
Sign the petition
Julie Rikelman has demonstrated a tireless commitment to safeguarding the Constitutional rights of all people and is exactly the kind of judge we need on the First Circuit. Sign the petition to tell your senators: Confirm her to the First Circuit!
Share your support on social media
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Julie Rikelman has demonstrated a tireless commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of all people. Tell your senators: #ConfirmRikelman #CourtsMatter
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1st Circuit nominee Julie Rikelman has defended the right to bodily autonomy by protecting the rights of those seeking access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and she’s defended access to the ballot box. We need this vital experience on the bench. #ConfirmRikelman |
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Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Julie Rikelman’s family came to America as refugees when she was six years old to escape religious persecution. If confirmed, she would be the first immigrant woman and first Jewish woman to ever sit on the First Circuit. This is vital. #ConfirmRikelman |