James Donald Peterson (born August 18, 1957) is an American lawyer who serves as the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

James D. Peterson
Peterson in 2014
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Assumed office
April 26, 2017
Preceded byWilliam M. Conley
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Assumed office
May 12, 2014
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byJohn C. Shabaz
Personal details
Born
James Donald Peterson

(1957-08-18) August 18, 1957 (age 67)
Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison (BS, MA, PhD, JD)

Biography

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Peterson was born on August 18, 1957.[1] He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1979, Master of Arts degree in 1984 and Doctor of Philosophy in 1986 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After graduation, he was a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame, where he taught film and television history. He received his Juris Doctor in 1998 from the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating Order of the Coif. He served as a law clerk for Judge David G. Deininger of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from 1998 to 1999. From 1999 to 2014, he had been a shareholder at the Wisconsin law firm of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., where he was a member of the litigation and intellectual property practice groups and led the firm's intellectual property litigation working group. Additionally, he served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he taught copyright law.[2][3][4]

Federal judicial service

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On November 7, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Peterson to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, to the seat vacated by Judge John C. Shabaz, who assumed senior status on January 20, 2009.[5] On February 6, 2014, his nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote, with 2 senators recorded as “no”.[6] Cloture was filed on his nomination on May 6, 2014.[7] On May 8, 2014, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 56–40 vote.[8] Later the day, his nomination was confirmed by a 70–24 vote.[9] He received his judicial commission on May 12, 2014. He became chief judge on April 26, 2017.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Attorney James D Peterson – Lawyer in Milwaukee WI". Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  2. ^ "President Obama Nominates Three to Serve on the United States District Courts". whitehouse.gov. November 7, 2013 – via National Archives.
  3. ^ "Godfrey & Kahn S.C.: Attorneys & Professionals – Godfrey & Kahn". Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  4. ^ a b James D. Peterson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  5. ^ "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. November 7, 2013 – via National Archives.
  6. ^ "Executive Business Meeting — February 6, 2014" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "Cloture filed on 4 judicial nominations (Talwani, Peterson, Rosenstengal, Rosenbaum)". Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  8. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of James D. Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be U.S. District Judge)". United States Senate. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation James D. Peterson, of Wisconsin, to be U.S. District Judge)". United States Senate. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
2014–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
2017–present