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Rod J. Rosenstein

Nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

  • Rod Rosenstein is a highly accomplished and well-respected attorney who is widely praised by lawyers and judges alike for his intellect, ethical standards, and fairness.
    • Mr. Rosenstein has been nominated to the Fourth Circuit, which hears appeals from the federal district courts of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
    • The vacancy that Mr. Rosenstein has been nominated to fill is considered a “judicial emergency” by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and has been vacant for seven years.
  • Mr. Rosenstein has a distinguished record in public service as a litigator.
    • Mr. Rosenstein is the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. He was confirmed to that position by a voice vote of the Senate on July 1, 2005.
      • As United States Attorney, Mr. Rosenstein has developed close partnerships with state and local law enforcement and prosecutors to combat violent crime, particularly with respect to gang violence and gun crime, in Maryland.
    • Mr. Rosenstein has also held a variety of other important positions in the United States Department of Justice under both Republican and Democrat administrations.
      • Prior to his confirmation as United States Attorney, Mr. Rosenstein served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division. In that role, he supervised the criminal enforcement and appellate sections of the Tax Division and oversaw the federal criminal tax prosecution program.
      • From 1997-2001, Mr. Rosenstein served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, working out of the Greenbelt office.
      • From 1994-1995, Mr. Rosenstein served as Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Jo Ann Harris.
      • From 1993-1994, Mr. Rosenstein served as Counsel for Deputy Attorney General Philip B. Heymann.
    • Mr. Rosenstein served as an Associate Independent Counsel from 1995-1997 in the fraud and corruption case against former Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker, James McDougal, and Susan McDougal.
  • Mr. Rosenstein has impeccable academic credentials and professional training.
    • Mr. Rosenstein received his B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude in 1986.
    • Mr. Rosenstein received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989, graduating cum laude.
    • Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Rosenstein clerked for the Honorable Douglas H. Ginsburg of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
  • Mr. Rosenstein has longstanding ties to Maryland and is an active member of the community.
    • From 1997-2001, Mr. Rosenstein served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, working out of the Greenbelt office.
    • Mr. Rosenstein teaches law school classes pro bono at the University of Maryland School of Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law.
    • Mr. Rosenstein is on the board of directors of the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.