Roberto Lange
Encyclopedia
Roberto Antonio Lange is a federal district judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
.
, Spain
, Lange was raised on a family farm near Madison, South Dakota
.
Lange earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota
in 1985 where he graduated magna cum laude. He attended Northwestern University School of Law
and received his law degree in 1988, cum laude. During his time at law school, Lange worked as an editor and boardmember for the Northwestern University Law Review.
Lange then joined the law firm Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
, in 1989. Lange became a partner in 1993, and later served as the head of the firm's litigation section. Lange specialized in complex commercial litigation, products liability and significant injury cases, class action and ERISA litigation. During his twenty years with the firm, he handled business disputes for individuals, small businesses, and nationally known clients.
In 2005, Lange argued the case of Rhines v. Weber in front of the Supreme Court of the United States
. As court-appointed counsel for a death-row inmate, he presented the issue of whether a federal court may stay a section 2254 habeas corpus petition which included exhausted and unexhausted claims. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lange's client, by a 9-0 vote, reversed the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and allowed the district court to stay Rhines' petition.
nominated Lange to a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
on July 8, 2009 that had been created by Judge Charles B. Kornmann
taking senior status
. The American Bar Association
Standing Committee on the Judicial Nominations voted unanimously to rate Lange as "well qualified."
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
reported Lange's nomination to the full Senate on October 1, 2009. The full Senate confirmed Lange by a vote of 100-0 on October 21, 2009, and he received his commission the same day.
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...
.
Early life and education
Born in PamplonaPamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Lange was raised on a family farm near Madison, South Dakota
Madison, South Dakota
Madison is a city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,474 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County and is home to Dakota State University.-Geography:Madison is located at ....
.
Lange earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
in 1985 where he graduated magna cum laude. He attended Northwestern University School of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
The Northwestern University School of Law is a private American law school in Chicago, Illinois. The law school was founded in 1859 as the Union College of Law of the Old University of Chicago. The first law school established in Chicago, it became jointly controlled by Northwestern University in...
and received his law degree in 1988, cum laude. During his time at law school, Lange worked as an editor and boardmember for the Northwestern University Law Review.
Professional career
After graduating law school, Lange worked as a law clerk in 1988 and 1989 for United States District Judge Donald Porter, who was Chief Judge for the District of South Dakota at the time.Lange then joined the law firm Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
, in 1989. Lange became a partner in 1993, and later served as the head of the firm's litigation section. Lange specialized in complex commercial litigation, products liability and significant injury cases, class action and ERISA litigation. During his twenty years with the firm, he handled business disputes for individuals, small businesses, and nationally known clients.
In 2005, Lange argued the case of Rhines v. Weber in front of the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. As court-appointed counsel for a death-row inmate, he presented the issue of whether a federal court may stay a section 2254 habeas corpus petition which included exhausted and unexhausted claims. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lange's client, by a 9-0 vote, reversed the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and allowed the district court to stay Rhines' petition.
Federal judicial service
Upon the recommendation of South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson, President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Lange to a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...
on July 8, 2009 that had been created by Judge Charles B. Kornmann
Charles B. Kornmann
Charles B. Kornmann is a United States federal judge.Born in Watertown, South Dakota, Kornmann received a B.A. from College of St. Thomas in 1959 and an LL.B. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1962. He was in the United States Army from 1962 to 1963, and was also a Legislative assistant to...
taking senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. The American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
Standing Committee on the Judicial Nominations voted unanimously to rate Lange as "well qualified."
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
reported Lange's nomination to the full Senate on October 1, 2009. The full Senate confirmed Lange by a vote of 100-0 on October 21, 2009, and he received his commission the same day.