Rosenblum
SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) - Former appeals court judge Ellen Rosenblum is seeking the job of Oregon's top lawyer.
Rosenblum, who has spent her entire legal and judicial career in Oregon, made the announcement Wednesday.
"I believe the attorney general needs to fight for Oregon workers and families," she told The Oregonian. "I think I'm ready to roll. I can put on the gloves with just about anyone."
According to the newspaper, Rosenblum is the first to announce her candidacy for the job.
Current Attorney General John Kroger said in October he would not seek another term, citing an unspecified illness.
Kroger was elected attorney general in 2008 after winning the nominations of both Democratic and Republican parties. The GOP did not have a candidate of its own that year.
Rosenblum, a Democrat, practiced law for 14 years, including eight as a federal prosecutor. She also has 22 years of experience as both an appellate and trial judge.
In 1989, she was appointed to the Multnomah County District Court and later to the Multnomah County Circuit Court by former Gov. Barbara Roberts, who is now endorsing her for attorney general.
"Ever since I was governor and appointed Ellen Rosenblum to be a judge, I have observed her to be one of the most accomplished, practical and hardworking persons I know. I strongly support Ellen for attorney general because I know we can count on her to stand up for the rights and safety of all Oregonians," Roberts said in a statement.
Rosenblum also served as a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals from 2005-11. The 60-year-old Portland resident retired from the court last May.
"Ellen Rosenblum has exactly the kind of experience that is needed in these tough times for Oregon's next attorney general," Steve Piucci, immediate past president of the Oregon Bar Association, said in a statement.
"As a federal prosecutor she specialized in financial fraud by taking on scammers, robbers, identity thieves and others looking to take advantage of vulnerable Oregonians; and as an Oregon trial and appellate court judge, she always applied her strong sense of fairness to protect Oregon's consumers, small businesses and victims," he said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.