Gonzaga University Law Professor Nominated to U.S. Court (10/24/09)

According to the Gonzaga University School of Law website, President Barack Obama has nominated GU Law professor Rosanna Peterson to Eastern Washington’s U.S. District Court.

If approved by the Senate, Prof. Peterson will be the first woman to serve the 19 counties of Eastern Washington in that position. She would replace Judge Fred Van Sickle, who moved to Senior Status last year.

“I’m very honored and extremely appreciative of the vote of confidence from President Obama,” Peterson told The Spokesman-Review following the announcement of her nomination.

At Gonzaga Law, Prof. Peterson teaches Evidence, Federal Jurisdiction, and Trial Advocacy. She also runs the school’s Externship program.

Peterson has served as president of the Federal Bar Association for Eastern Washington and the Washington Women Lawyers State Bar Association. She was selected by a bipartisan merit selection committee as one of three finalists, from among more than two dozen applicants for the judgeship, and she is the only finalist nominated by the president for the judgeship.

“I’m proud to support her and I’m proud that our bipartisan Washington State Selection Committee process continues to produce exceptional candidates,” Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. told the newspaper.

“You hate to lose her,” said Earl Martin, Dean of the Law School, “but at the same time this is wonderful for her and frankly wonderful for the institution; it’s a great honor for the place."