Final Summary 6:25 p.m.
CEDAR RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney Stephanie Rose was nominated late Thursday by President Barack Obama as the next federal judge in the Southern District of Iowa.
Rose, of Center Point, said she received the call from Sen. Tom Harkin late Thursday afternoon and then the news release from the White House.
“This has been a really involved process and I’m honored to be selected, especially with the other talented women that were also nominated,” Rose said Thursday evening. “If the Senate confirms me, I will happy to serve and look forward to the diversity of the Southern District and the new opportunities.”
Obama, who also nominated Michael P. Shea, as a federal judge for the U.S. District of Connecticut on Thursday, said Rose and Shea have “demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system. I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law with the utmost impartiality and integrity.”
Harkin in a news release said Rose is a “superb attorney and among jurists, prosecutors and the defense bar has a reputation as an extremely fair and ethical prosecutor who possesses great legal ability, intellect, and judgment.”
Harkin said she had vigorously enforced federal law, helping to make Iowa safer, and “exhibited a strong sense of justice,” since her confirmation as U.S. Attorney.
“There is no question in my mind that Stephanie Rose would be an outstanding federal judge and if confirmed, her appointment would be an historic achievement for the State of Iowa. I congratulate Stephanie Rose on this nomination and I urge my Senate colleagues to confirm her for this important position as quickly as possible.”
Rose served 12 years as an assistant U.S. Attorney before being appointed the top prosecutor in 2009. She will be the first woman to serve as a federal judge in the Southern District and only the second woman to serve on the federal bench in Iowa’s history.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Teig, who retired last year after 31 years, said Thursday she will make an “excellent” federal judge.
“She has experience in the courtroom and as an administrator,” Teig said. “She has a broad view of the federal legal system and she’s very intelligent. Stephanie will make a great additional to the federal bench.”
Teig worked with Rose throughout her career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Harkin was asked earlier Thursday about the harsh criticism of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Rose regarding the Postville Raid, one of the most publicized immigration cases ever prosecuted by the office. Nearly 400 illegal immigrants were arrested, more than 300 were charged and many of those were deported.
Harkin said he didn’t think the Agriprocessors raid will be an issue. It was handled 2 years ago and “put to rest,” he said. There was a lot of misinformation and the Judiciary Committee and Department of Justice looked at the entire raid and aftermath, and determined she had no knowledge of the planning or implementation of the raid.
Matt Dummermuth was the U.S. Attorney at the time of the raid. He stepped down after serving nearly two years as the district’s top prosecutor.
After Rose’s first year in office she said in an interview with SourceMedia that she learned some valuable and frustrating lessons. She was referring to big cases wrapped up, including the conviction of Sholom Rubashkin, 50, former Agriprocessors vice president, who was in charge when the raid occurred.
Rubashkin was convicted in 2009 of 86 bank fraud charges and sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Rose said in the interview the case was frustrating for her because his conviction and wrongdoing was overshadowed by accusations of wrongful prosecution by the defense and its “public relations machine” out of New York. The defense put out inaccurate facts and when she or the other assistants would attempt to correct those statements, it didn’t stop the criticism, she said.
Harkin said defense attorneys representing the immigrants “spoke extremely highly of her.” They said she treated them and the defendants fairly.
Some of the attorneys who defended those charged wrote letters to Harkin in support of her nomination as U.S. Attorney. They said Rose wasn’t involved in major policy decisions that led to the 2008 raid, what charges to make, or the decision to fast-track cases the next week after the arrests.
James Lynch, reporter with SourceMedia, contributed to this article.
Added Stephanie Rose comment 4:58 p.m.
Additional information bolded 4 p.m.
Sen. Tom Harkin said during his weekly press call today that he expects President Barack Obama to soon nominate U.S. Attorney Stephanie Rose as the next U.S. District judge of the Southern District of Iowa.
In 2009, Harkin recommended Rose, of Center Point, as the first U.S. Attorney for the Northern District. She served 12 years as an assistant U.S. Attorney.
If confirmed she will be the first woman to serve as a federal judge in the Southern District and only the second woman to serve on the federal bench in Iowa’s history.
Rose said Thursday she can’t comment because she hasn’t heard anything official at this point but said she would talk to SourceMedia if she is nominated.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Teig, who retired last year after 31 years, said Thursday if she is nominated she will make an “excellent” federal judge.
“She has experience in the courtroom and as an administrator,” Teig said. “She has a broad view of the federal legal system and she’s very intelligent. Stephanie will make a great additional to the federal bench.”
Teig worked with Rose throughout her career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Harkin was asked after he made the announcement about the harsh criticism of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Rose regarding the Postville Raid, one of the most publicized immigration cases ever prosecuted by the office. Nearly 400 illegal immigrants were arrested, more than 300 were charged and many of those were deported.
Harkin said he didn’t think the Agriprocessors raid will be an issue. It was handled 2 years ago and “put to rest,” he said. There was a lot of misinformation and the Judiciary Committee and Department of Justice looked at the entire raid and aftermath, and determined she had no knowledge of the planning or implementation of the raid.
Matt Dummermuth was the U.S. Attorney at the time of the raid. He stepped down after serving nearly two years as the district’s top prosecutor.
After Rose’s first year in office she said in an interview with SourceMedia that she learned some valuable and frustrating lessons. She was referring to big cases wrapped up, including the conviction of Sholom Rubashkin, 50, former Agriprocessors vice president, who was in charge when the raid occurred.
Rubashkin was convicted in 2009 of 86 bank fraud charges and sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Rose said in the interview the case was frustrating for her because his conviction and wrongdoing was overshadowed by accusations of wrongful prosecution by the defense and its “public relations machine” out of New York. The defense put out inaccurate facts and when she or the other assistants would attempt to correct those statements, it didn’t stop the criticism, she said.
Harkin said defense attorneys representing the immigrants “spoke extremely highly of her.” They said she treated them and the defendants fairly.
Some of the attorneys who defended those charged wrote letters to Harkin in support of her nomination as U.S. Attorney. They said Rose wasn’t involved in major policy decisions that led to the 2008 raid, what charges to make, or the decision to fast-track cases the next week after the arrests.
James Lynch, reporter with SourceMedia, contributed to this article.
I’m assuming you’re referring to the sentencing of Sholom Rubashkin. The government actually recommended less years than what Judge Linda Reade gave him. The government never recommended life.
She had initially recommended life but then retracted when she came under attack from six former US attorney generals amongst other distinguished lawyers and judges