Woman of the Week (WOW): Chizoma Anokwute
HON. CHIZOMA O. IHEKERE-ANOKWUTE has been an Administrative Judge with the United States Merit Systems Protection Board since October 2008. After graduating law school, Judge Ihekere-Anokwute worked at the law firm of Walker and Chambers, she then served as a Staff attorney at Legal Services of North Texas. In 2000, she began her employment at the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Dallas, Texas as an Assistant District Attorney in the misdemeanor and felony sections. As an ADA, she spent a great deal of time trying cases involving family violence. After several years, Judge Ihekere-Anokwute left the DA’s office to enter the Federal sector and served as an attorney with the U.S. Postal Service, Southwest Area Law Department, Dallas, Texas, in her previous positions, Judge Ihekere-Anokwute tried over 500 cases ranging from misdemeanor Driving while Intoxicated charges to Murder, in addition to civil cases regarding employment law, discrimination, and whistleblowing.
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas to Mr. and Mrs. John and Lois Ihekere of Umuodu, Owerri, Judge Ihekere-Anokwute, who is married to Mazi Okey Anokwute of Umuakah, is a proud Nigerian Texan and avid Dallas Cowboys fan. In 1995, she received her B.A. (major in English, minor in Economics) from Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. During her final year of college, Judge Ihekere-Anokwute served as the President of the Self Government Association; an opportunity that allowed her to meet with President William J. Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, U.S. Congressional Budget Director Alice Mitchell Rivlin, and several other prominent figures. In 1998, Judge Ihekere-Anokwute received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. While in law school, Judge Ihekere-Anokwute received the Herbert Bonham endowed presidential scholarship and was the Director of Development for the Texas Journal of Women and the Law. She also served as the Community Service Director for the region’s Black Law Students’ Association.
Judge Ihekere-Anokwute has attended multiple courses at the National Advocacy Center, the National Institute for Justice, and at the National Judicial College. She has taken classes on advanced evidence, mediation, and ethical biases, to name a few. Recently, she was invited to become a Group Facilitator and faculty member for the National Judicial College’s Fair Hearings and Civil Mediation Courses. She is a certified mediator and has built a solid reputation as an effective dispute resolution specialist. She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas. Her professional memberships include the State Bar of Texas, and the Texas Young Lawyers Association. She has served on the Executive Board of the Nigerian-American Lawyers Association of Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Judge Ihekere is an active member of Covenant Fellowship Garland, Texas. She served as a Deacon in the Church for 5 years and is currently the Church Secretary. She sings in the church choir and serves as. Member of the Outreach ministry. She has published two short (fiction) stories and enjoys baking and reading in her spare time.