[2] On July 15, 1994, Perry was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri vacated by Judge Clyde S. Cahill.

She was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 6, 1994, and received her commission the following day.

[2] On August 18, 2014 Perry denied motions by the ACLU for temporary restraining orders against six police officers to prevent the enforcement of a 5-second rule in Ferguson, Missouri.

Perry cited the need for law enforcement's protection of property and the availability of a "free-speech zone".

[3] However, at the time of this ruling the free speech zone was off-limits to the public.