Stephanie Rose

President Barack Obama today signed U.S. Attorney Stephanie Rose’s commission  as the next federal judge in the Southern District of Iowa.

Rose, 39, of Center Point, was nominated by Obama in February to replace Chief Judge Robert Pratt, who retired July 1. The Senate confirmed her nomination Sept. 10. Rose is the first female judge in the Southern District and the 72nd judge appointed by Obama.

Rose  has worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office since graduating from law school, one of the youngest hired at the time. She worked her way up to the top spot in 2009, prosecuting more than 800 felony cases. She was lead prosecutor on 260 of those cases and has handled another 45 civil cases and 34 appeals.