Rosanna Peterson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Peterson in 2018 | |
| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
| Assumed office October 1, 2021 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited 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 theUnited 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 (1951-04-12)April 12, 1951 (age 74) 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 |
Rosanna Malouf Peterson (born April 12, 1951) is aseniorUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington and a former professor atGonzaga University School of Law. She is the first female judge to serve in the Eastern District.[2]
Born inSalt Lake City, Peterson attended theUniversity of Utah from 1969 until 1970 and again from 1971 until 1972. She then earned aBachelor of Arts degree cum laude from theUniversity of North Dakota in 1977 and aMaster of Arts degree in 1983 from the school. In 1991, she earned aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of North Dakota School of Law.[3]
Peterson worked from 1975 until 1978 as an instructor with theGrand Forks, North Dakota Park District and from 1979 until 1983 as a graduate teaching assistant at theUniversity 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 legalextern forUnited States SenatorKent Conrad. From 1991 until 1993, Peterson served as a staff attorney forUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington JudgeFrederick L. Van Sickle.[4] Peterson then worked as an associate attorney for aSpokane 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 theGonzaga University School of Law. She became the director of the law school's externship program in 2002.[4][3]
On October 13, 2009, PresidentBarack Obama nominated Peterson to serve as a judge on theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington to a seat vacated by JudgeFrederick L. Van Sickle, who assumedsenior status on May 1, 2008. TheUnited 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 assumedsenior status on October 1, 2021.[3]
In 2015, Peterson became a central figure inSecond Amendment andTenth 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 Courthouse 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 Walter F. Horan Plaza outside the courthouse.[7]
In 2019, Peterson made national headlines when she blocked theTrump Administration from implementing its changes to thePublic charge rule nationwide.[9]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington 2010–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington 2011–2016 | Succeeded by |
