Nancy Friedman Atlas


Nancy Friedman Atlas is a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, New York, Atlas received a Bachelor of Science degree from Tufts University in 1971 and a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law in 1974. She was a law clerk to Judge Dudley Bonsal of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1974 to 1976.

Career

After working in private practice in New York City from 1976 to 1978 as an associate at the law firm Webster & Sheffield, Atlas was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1979 to 1982. She was thereafter in private practice in Houston, Texas, until 1995.

Judicial service

On April 4, 1995, Atlas was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas vacated by James DeAnda. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 30, 1995, and received her commission the same day. She assumed senior status on June 20, 2014 and was succeeded by Judge George C. Hanks Jr.