Statement of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin on President Obama’s Nomination of James D. Peterson for the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Today, President Barack Obama nominated James D. Peterson for the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement:

“I applaud the President’s nomination of James D. Peterson to serve as a Federal District Court Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin. Mr. Peterson will make an outstanding federal judge, and his nomination marks an important step forward in filling a judgeship that has been vacant for nearly six years. Mr. Peterson’s experience and expertise make him an outstanding choice for the position.  I am hopeful that the Senate will consider and confirm his nomination without undue delay.”      

In August, Baldwin and Senator Johnson recommended to the White House three Wisconsinites, including Peterson, for consideration to fill the open U.S. Federal District Judgeship for the Western District of Wisconsin. Peterson was also among those recommended by a bipartisan Federal Nominating Commission that the Wisconsin Senators established in April to move federal nominations forward, including vacant federal judgeships in Wisconsin.

Baldwin also gave special recognition to United States District Judge Barbara Crabb, who following her retirement four years ago, has continued her service as a judge on the federal bench in order to help address the court’s caseload. “We are indebted to Judge Crabb for her selfless contributions to the administration of justice during this lengthy vacancy on the court,” Baldwin said.

James D. Peterson: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
James D. Peterson is a shareholder at the law firm of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., where he is a member of the litigation and intellectual property practice groups and heads the firm’s intellectual property litigation working group.  Previously, Peterson worked as a law clerk for Judge David Deininger of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from 1998 to 1999.  Peterson received his J.D. in 1998 from the University of Wisconsin Law School.  Prior to his career in law, Peterson was a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame.  He received his Ph.D. in 1986, his M.A. in 1984, and his B.S. in 1979, all from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.