{ "id": "epz4xtbxjc", "slug": "robert-f-rossiter-jr", "title": "Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law" }, { "id": "society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3", "label": "Article III judges (district and appellate)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-q-to-sc", "label": "Surnames Q to Sc", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-q-to-sc" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-q-to-sc", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames Q to Sc", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-q-to-sc", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-q-to-sc", "label": "Surnames Q to Sc", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-q-to-sc" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. (born 1956) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the District of Nebraska since 2016, appointed by President Barack Obama.", "snippet": "Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. (born 1956) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the District of Nebraska since 2016, appointed by President Barack Obama.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-q-to-sc", "markdown": "# Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.\n\nRobert F. Rossiter, Jr. (born 1956) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska since 2016.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) He was appointed by President Barack Obama and served as chief judge of the court from July 2021 until July 16, 2026, when Brian C. Buescher succeeded him.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) |\n| Appointed by | Barack Obama[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) |\n| Confirmed | June 27, 2016 (Senate voted 90 to 0)[2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1140450) |\n| Chief judge | July 2021 to July 16, 2026[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) |\n| Born | 1956 in Camp Lejeune, NC[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) |\n| Education | B.S., Purdue University, 1978; J.D., Creighton University School of Law, 1981[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nRossiter was born in 1956 in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) He received a B.S. from [Purdue University](https://www.edgepedia.org/purdue-university) in 1978 and a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law in 1981.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) The White House announcement of his nomination described his law degree as cum laude.[3](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/12/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-courts)\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Rossiter served as a law clerk to Judge Albert G. Schatz of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska from 1981 to 1982, and then as a law clerk to Judge C. Arlen Beam of the same court from 1982 to 1983.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866)\n\nIn 1983 he joined the Omaha law firm Fraser Stryker PC LLO as an associate, where he specialized in labor and employment litigation, primarily in federal court.[3](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/12/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-courts) He was made a shareholder in 1987 and served on the firm's Management Committee beginning in 2011.[3](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/12/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-courts) He remained in private practice in Omaha until 2016.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866)\n\nRossiter also served as adjunct faculty at Creighton University School of Law from 1983 to 1987 and again beginning in 1999.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) At the time of his nomination, he was a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, the immediate past State Chair of that organization, and President-Elect of the Nebraska State Bar Association.[3](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/12/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-courts)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Obama nominated Rossiter to the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska on June 11, 2015.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) The White House announced the nomination the following day, describing Rossiter as one of two individuals nominated to serve on the United States District Courts.[3](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/12/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-courts) The Senate confirmed him on June 27, 2016, by a vote of 90 to 0.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) • [2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1140450) He received his commission on June 29, 2016.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866)\n\nRossiter served as chief judge of the District of Nebraska from July 2021 until July 16, 2026, when Brian C. Buescher succeeded him.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866) On September 18, 2026, Rossiter announced that he will take senior status effective upon the confirmation of his successor.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394866)\n2. [Senate Roll Call Vote, June 27, 2016](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1140450)\n3. [President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/12/president-obama-nominates-two-serve-united-states-district-courts)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Q to Sc*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-f-rossiter-jr", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-f-rossiter-jr.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-f-rossiter-jr. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-f-rossiter-jr)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-f-rossiter-jr](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-f-rossiter-jr). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-f-rossiter-jr. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the District of Nebraska since 2016, appointed by President Barack Obama." }