Rosanna Malouf Peterson (born April 12, 1951) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington and a former professor at Gonzaga University School of Law. She is the first female judge to serve in the Eastern District.[2]
Rosanna Peterson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Peterson in 2018 | |
| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
| Assumed office October 1, 2021 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
| In office January 27, 2011 – January 27, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Lonny R. Suko |
| Succeeded by | Thomas O. Rice |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
| In office January 26, 2010 – October 1, 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Frederick L. Van Sickle |
| Succeeded by | Mary Dimke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rosanna Malouf April 12, 1951 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Spouse | Fredrick Peterson[1] |
| Education | University of North Dakota (BA, MA, JD) |
| Academic work | |
| Sub-discipline | Evidence law |
| Institutions | Gonzaga University School of Law |
Early life and education
editBorn in Salt Lake City, Peterson attended the University of Utah from 1969 until 1970 and again from 1971 until 1972. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from the University of North Dakota in 1977 and a Master of Arts degree in 1983 from the school. In 1991, she earned a Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law.[3]
Career
editPeterson worked from 1975 until 1978 as an instructor with the Grand Forks, North Dakota Park District and from 1979 until 1983 as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of North Dakota. From 1984 until 1988, Peterson was a lecturer at the University of North Dakota's Department of English. During law school in 1989, she served as a judicial extern for North Dakota Judge Bruce Bohlman, and then in 1990 she served as a legal extern for United States Senator Kent Conrad. From 1991 until 1993, Peterson served as a staff attorney for United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Judge Frederick L. Van Sickle.[4] Peterson then worked as an associate attorney for a Spokane law firm from 1993 until 1994 and then was a sole practitioner in 1995. She then served as an associate attorney for another Spokane law firm from 1995 until 1997, and then was partner in a different Spokane law firm from 1998 until 2002. From 1999 until present, Peterson has served as an adjunct professor (1999–2005), a visiting professor (2005–2007) and an assistant professor (2007–2010) at the Gonzaga University School of Law. She became the director of the law school's externship program in 2002.[4][3]
Federal judicial service
editOn October 13, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Peterson to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington to a seat vacated by Judge Frederick L. Van Sickle, who assumed senior status on May 1, 2008. The United States Senate confirmed Peterson on January 25, 2010 by an 89–0 vote.[5] She received her commission on January 26, 2010.[3] She served as Chief Judge from January 27, 2011 to January 27, 2016.[6][3] She assumed senior status on October 1, 2021.[3]
Notable cases
editIn 2015, Peterson became a central figure in Second Amendment and Tenth Amendment protests in Spokane. Following the arrest of Anthony P. Bosworth on February 25, 2015,[7] Peterson authored new rules banning firearms and other weapons on the grounds surrounding the Thomas S. Foley Federal Court in Spokane.[8] Bosworth's arrest and detention on February 25 led to an additional protest on March 6, 2015, where a large crowd defied the judge's order by appearing armed on the Foley Courthouse plaza.[7]
In 2019, Peterson made national headlines when she blocked the Trump Administration from implementing its changes to the “public charge” rule nationwide.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "News Releases - Newsroom - Senator Murray Introduces Professor Rosanna Peterson at Senate Judiciary Confirmation Hearing - United States Senator Patty Murray". Archived from the original on 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ Making History: President Obama’s Female Judicial Nominees, Alliance for Justice (June 11, 2013).
- ^ a b c d e Rosanna M. Peterson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ a b President Obama Nominates Rosanna M. Peterson to Serve on the District Court Bench, whitehouse.gov (October 13, 2009).
- ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Rosanna Malouf Peterson, of Washington, to be U.S. District Judge)".
- ^ "Change in Chief Judge – January 27, 2016 – Eastern District of Washington". www.waed.uscourts.gov.
- ^ a b Gun activists defy federal firearms ban, yakimaherald.com (March 7, 2015).
- ^ General Order 15-54-1, uscourts.gov (March 2, 2015).
- ^ "Judge blocks Trump Administration 'public charge' rule as a result of AG Ferguson lawsuit | Washington State".
External links
edit- Rosanna M. Peterson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Rosanna M. Peterson at Ballotpedia