Nov. 7, 2013 – Wisconsin attorney James D. Peterson was nominated by President Barack Obama on Thursday to be a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin. The opening resulted from the retirement and subsequent passing of U.S. District Judge John Shabaz. Obama also announced nominations for vacancies in Illinois and Missouri.

"These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system," said Obama. "I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law with the utmost impartiality and integrity."

Peterson, of Madison, was recommended to the president – along with two other applicants – by Wisconsin’s two U.S. Senators, Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin. Senators Johnson and Baldwin established the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission to receive and screen applicants for Wisconsin vacancies.

For more on the Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission visit wisbar.org/fnc.

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.

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