UW Law School graduate Amanda Rockman, an associate trial judge of the Ho Chunk nation in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, has been named a recipient of the "Forward under 40" Award by the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA).

The new award was created to recognize outstanding young graduates of the University of Wisconsin – all under the age of 40 – who are making an impact on the world.

Rockman, who was named to the Ho Chunk judiciary in 2006, is one of the youngest judges in America. In addition to presiding over her own courtroom, she works with Native judges across Wisconsin and the U.S. to create intertribal legal networks and revive American Indian legal systems.

At the UW Law School, Rockman was active with the Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA) in addition to balancing academic work and family obligations. As a UW-Madison undergraduate, she completed a triple major in anthropology, French, and American Indian studies, and she returned to campus to attend the UW Law School, inspired by the university’s community atmosphere and seeking to find the most effective way to assist the Ho Chunk people.

For more information about Rockman and other winners of the Forward under 40 Award, see www.forwardunder40.com .

Submitted by on July 1, 2008

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