Amanda L. Rockman ‘05 has been named an Associate Judge of the Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Rockman was sworn in on August 14, 2006, for a three-year term, in a ceremony attended by representatives of four branches of government.

Rockman, who was active as a law student with the UW Law School’s Great Lakes Indian Law Center, is one of the youngest Tribal Court judges in Indian Country, if not the youngest. "I am definitely proud of the accomplishment," Rockman said, "as well as being a recent graduate of the UW Law School."

In addition to her law degree, Rockman earned a B.A. in Anthropology and French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a certificate in American Indian Studies. Her interest in law, especially Indian law, arose during her undergraduate years in a course on American Indian History. After graduation from law school, Rockman worked as the Ho-Chunk Nation Judiciary’s Staff Attorney.

When asked by an interviewer to elaborate on her goals for the next three years, Rockman commented, "My goals are to contribute to the faith of Ho-Chunk citizens and members in our judicial system, to contribute to a body of law that clearly communicates standards and judicial precedent, and finally, to justly and timely issue judgments."

Submitted by on October 18, 2006

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