Civic Register
| 9.20.21

Know a Nominee: Veronica Rossman to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Do you support or oppose Rossman’s nomination?

UPDATE 9/20/21

  • The Senate voted 50-42 to confirm Veronica Rossman as a federal judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She will take her place on the bench once she receives her judicial commission.

UPDATE 9/15/21

  • The Senate voted 51-44 to advance Rossman’s nomination on Wednesday, September 15th. A confirmation vote is scheduled to occur on Monday, September 20th.
  • All Democrats voted in favor and were joined by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who were the only Republican senators to vote in favor.

The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Veronica Rossman to be a judge on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in the near future. Here’s what you need to know about the nominee:

Who is Veronica Rossman?

  • Rossman, age 48-49, is an attorney who works as the senior counsel in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for Colorado and Wyoming, where she has worked since 2015.
  • She earned her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. After law school, she clerked for Chief Justice A. William Maupin on the Nevada Supreme Court from 1997-1998.
  • Rossman has previously worked as an attorney in private practice, as a law professor, and as a staff attorney for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • She is an immigrant who came to the U.S. with her parents in the 1970s when they fled the Soviet Union. 
  • If confirmed, Rossman would be the only judge with experience as a federal defender serving on the Tenth Circuit.

What’s the outlook for her confirmation?

  • The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Rossman’s nomination on a mostly party-line vote of 12-10, in which Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joined Democrats by voting in favor.
  • Republicans on the committee took issue with aspects of her work as a public defender, including her pursuit of compassionate release for prisoners who in some cases hadn’t served half of their sentence. 
  • In particular, they questioned her about her work on behalf of a defendant named Merrill Ross Moon, who sought release from pretrial detention for cancer treatments despite prior convictions for witness intimidation, bribery, and other offenses. Moon later pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms and unregistered silencers. Rossman said she understood concerns about Moon’s release but that defenders pursue release plans “in good faith, under the bounds of the law”.
  • The American Bar Association’s judicial nominations rating board gave Rossman a rating of “qualified” according to a substantial majority of the panel, while a minority of the panel rated her “well qualified.”

What does it mean for the Tenth Circuit?

  • Rossman’s confirmation would fill a vacancy that opened up on February 1, 2021, after Judge Carlos Lucero (a Bill Clinton nominee) took senior status. Lucero’s duty station was in Denver, Colorado.
  • The Tenth Circuit has 12 active judgeships. Of the judges on the bench, George W. Bush appointed three, Barack Obama appointed five, and Donald Trump appointed two. There are two total vacancies, including Lucero’s seat, and both judges who stepped down to take senior status were appointed by Clinton.


— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock / imaginima)

  • 674
    Azrael
    09/23/2021

    Get moving on more Stack the courts now

  • 41
    LeftWingRich
    09/23/2021

    When it comes to Article 2’s power granted to the President of the United States to appoint judges of inferior courts to the United States Supreme Court “by and with the advice and consent of the Senate”, aside from certain rules of “tradition” I would like to respond here to those persons whom are against the appointment of such a fine legal scholar to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. As President Donald Trump once stated (I believe most recently during his first debate with now President Biden) that elections have consequences. One of which- something that Moscow Mitch denied in the most disgusting and un-American of ways to Merrick Garland to be associate justice of the United States Supreme Court citing the most dumbfounded theories any jackass could recognize- go get em’ President Biden!!!! Don’t only restore balance to the Federal Court system- appoint the most far leftist persons you can find- P.S. You are doing a fine job Mr. President

  • 685
    Robert
    09/22/2021

    This person is not qualified to hold this position.

  • 389
    David
    09/22/2021

    You must appoint a God fearing constitutionalist to any position in our courts!

  • 1,085
    Michael777
    09/21/2021

    Veronica Rossman’s work as a public defender is what makes her qualified to be a federal judge since it proves she understands the struggles of average Americans. The federal courts are currently overrepresented with corporate lawyers and prosecutors who rule only in the interests of big businesses and the wealthy elite. We need more public defenders to represent the interests of workers in our courts, not less! Her confirmation has also flipped the 10th Circuit court to Democratic control. Considering about 99% of cases are resolved at the circuit courts, this is a big deal!

  • 1,221
    Ronald
    09/21/2021

    Block this, and every nominee Fraudulent "P", Traitor Biden nominates. You, and SCOTUS allowed a fraudulent 2020 election. Our Constitution gives sole authority over elections to Each State's Lawmakers. Ask unauthorized people violate election law You had the duty to declare it Null, Anne Void. You Failed. Get to Work. Fix Your Mistakes, or Don't bother to run again.

  • 7,934
    larubia
    09/20/2021

    Veronica Rossman is experienced, rated “qualified” by the American Bar Association and would be the only judge with experience as a federal defender serving on the Tenth Circuit. I wholeheartedly support this nomination.

  • 325
    Servicebeforeself
    09/21/2021

    She is a much needed voice for judicial reform! Sound legal mind!

  • 478
    Carol
    09/20/2021

    The American Bar rated her qualified or well qualified. That’s good enough for me. Unfortunately they rated more than one Trump appointee unqualified but Republicans voted for them anyway.

  • 148
    Loretta
    09/20/2021

    Bout damn time.. we need to level out the courts and make term limits for ALL ELECTED

  • 113
    JerrylCom
    09/20/2021

    Given Rossman’s impeccable credentials, she should be immediately confirmed to the 10th Circuit by the U.S. Senate.

  • 446
    ManfromNebraska
    09/20/2021

    No this candidate should not be put into office. She would legislate from the bench instead of ruling according to the law.

  • 989
    Curt
    09/20/2021

    STOP CONFIRMING COMMUNIST JUDGES ASSHOLE SENATORS!

  • 53
    Fred
    09/20/2021

    We need people that follows the law, not follow their political affiliation!

  • 35
    Jared
    09/20/2021

    Hopefully she isn’t another conservative puppet

  • 264
    James
    09/20/2021

    Not qualified

  • 48
    Sean
    09/20/2021

    The GOP strategy of gumming up the works is tiresome. I’d like my representatives to take a break from spreading anti-vax propaganda and giving handouts to corporations do their job for a change

  • 318
    TDJCatholicBlogger
    09/20/2021

    Is she pro-abort? Then no.

  • 243
    HAILEYComet
    09/20/2021

    N. O. Thank You. 🤨 Also. I do boycott All Rinos supporting Agendas that are Against Our USA and All US Citizens. Turds need to Be Voted 🗳 Out 💥⚖️💥🇺🇸💥⚔️💥😏🩸 I could very well be wrong in my thoughts. But, no one has Sanely stated an explanation good enough for it. my opinion only

  • 165
    Cindy
    09/20/2021

    No, no vote for legislating from the bench!