Rosanna M. Peterson
Encyclopedia
Rosanna Malouf Peterson (born April 12, 1951) is a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
and a former professor at Gonzaga University School of Law
.
from 1969 until 1970 and again from 1971 until 1972. She then earned a bachelor's degree cum laude from the University of North Dakota
in 1977 and a master's degree in 1983 from the school. In 1991, she earned a law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law
.
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 Sen. 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
.
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 until 2010) at the Gonzaga University School of Law
. She became the director of the law school's externship program in 2002.
to a seat vacated when Frederick Van Sickle assumed senior status
. The United States Senate
confirmed Peterson in an 89-0 vote on January 25, 2010.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties of the state of Washington: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln,...
and a former professor at Gonzaga University School of Law
Gonzaga University School of Law
The Gonzaga University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, USA. Established in 1912, the law school is viewed as a strong institution in the Pacific Northwest, and is the only law school in the State of Washington...
.
Early life and education
Born in Salt Lake City, Peterson attended the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
from 1969 until 1970 and again from 1971 until 1972. She then earned a bachelor's degree cum laude from the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
in 1977 and a master's degree in 1983 from the school. In 1991, she earned a law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law
University of North Dakota School of Law
The University of North Dakota School of Law is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota at the University of North Dakota and is the only law school in the state of North Dakota. Established in 1899, the law school is home to approximately 235 students and has more than 3,000 alumni...
.
Professional career
Peterson worked from 1975 until 1978 as an instructor with the Grand Forks, North DakotaGrand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
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 Sen. Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
.
From 1991 until 1993, Peterson served as a staff attorney for United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties of the state of Washington: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln,...
Judge Frederick L. Van Sickle
Frederick L. Van Sickle
-Early life and education:Born in Superior, Wisconsin, Van Sickle received a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin in 1965 and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1968.-Career:...
.
Peterson then worked as an associate attorney for a Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS 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 until 2010) at the Gonzaga University School of Law
Gonzaga University School of Law
The Gonzaga University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, USA. Established in 1912, the law school is viewed as a strong institution in the Pacific Northwest, and is the only law school in the State of Washington...
. She became the director of the law school's externship program in 2002.
Federal judicial service
On October 13, 2009, President Obama nominated Peterson to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of WashingtonUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties of the state of Washington: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln,...
to a seat vacated when Frederick Van Sickle assumed 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 United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed Peterson in an 89-0 vote on January 25, 2010.