Michael W. Mosman
Encyclopedia
Michael Wise Mosman is an American
attorney and jurist from Oregon
. He is currently a federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon
, for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
. The Oregon native previously served as the United States Attorney
for the same district.
of Oregon in 1956 in the city of Eugene
. He grew up in Lewiston, Idaho
, the son of an attorney and judge with an older sister and three younger brothers. He attended Ricks College in Idaho
, which is now Brigham Young University–Idaho
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1979 before attending Utah State University
in Logan, Utah
.
At Utah State he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1981, and was the valedictorian
of his class. Mosman then went on to law school
at Brigham Young University
's J. Reuben Clark Law School
. He graduated there in 1984 with a juris doctorate. At BYU he was the editor of the law review, and graduated magna cum laude.
, judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
. The following year he entered private legal practice for part of 1985. Mosman then was a judicial clerk for United States Supreme Court justice Lewis F. Powell. While clerking for Powell, he was involved in the justice's voting to uphold Georgia
's sodomy law in Bowers v. Hardwick
. After leaving Powell's employ, Mosman entered private practice in Portland, Oregon
in 1986.
In 1988, he began working as an assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, remaining until 2001. That year he became the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, serving until 2003. He replaced Kristine Olson Rogers who had resigned. In 2003, United States President George W. Bush
nominated Mosman to serve as judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
on May 8 to take the seat of Robert E. Jones
, who had assumed senior status on the court. Mosman was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 25, 2003, and received his federal commission the following day.
Mosman issued a temporary injunction in December 2007 to prevent Oregon's new civil union law
from taking effect in January. This was in response to a legal challenge by a group that had attempted to place a referendum on the November 2008 ballot to block the civil union law that had been passed by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
. The legal issue centered on how the Oregon Secretary of State
verified signatures on petitions. On February 1, 2008, in Lemons v. Bradbury, he dismissed the lawsuit and lifted the injunction, with the law immediately going into effect.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and jurist from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He is currently a federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
. The Oregon native previously served as the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the same district.
Early life
Michael Mosman was born in the Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
of Oregon in 1956 in the city of Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. He grew up in Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
, the son of an attorney and judge with an older sister and three younger brothers. He attended Ricks College in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, which is now Brigham Young University–Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho
Brigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1979 before attending Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
.
At Utah State he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1981, and was the valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his class. Mosman then went on to law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
's J. Reuben Clark Law School
J. Reuben Clark Law School
The J. Reuben Clark Law School is a professional graduate school located in Provo, Utah at Brigham Young University. Founded in 1973, the school is named after J. Reuben Clark, Jr.—former U.S. Ambassador, Undersecretary of State, and LDS Church General Authority—and its charter dean was former...
. He graduated there in 1984 with a juris doctorate. At BYU he was the editor of the law review, and graduated magna cum laude.
Legal career
In 1984, Mosman began clerking for Malcolm Richard WilkeyMalcolm Richard Wilkey
Malcolm Richard Wilkey was a United States federal judge and ambassador.-Biography:Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Wilkey received an A.B. from Harvard University in 1940 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1948. He was in the United States Army 1941–1945, serving in George Patton's...
, judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
. The following year he entered private legal practice for part of 1985. Mosman then was a judicial clerk for United States Supreme Court justice Lewis F. Powell. While clerking for Powell, he was involved in the justice's voting to uphold Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
's sodomy law in Bowers v. Hardwick
Bowers v. Hardwick
Bowers v. Hardwick, , is a United States Supreme Court decision that upheld, in a 5-4 ruling, the constitutionality of a Georgia sodomy law criminalizing oral and anal sex in private between consenting adults when applied to homosexuals. Seventeen years after Bowers v. Hardwick, the Supreme Court...
. After leaving Powell's employ, Mosman entered private practice in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1986.
In 1988, he began working as an assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, remaining until 2001. That year he became the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, serving until 2003. He replaced Kristine Olson Rogers who had resigned. In 2003, United States President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
nominated Mosman to serve as judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
on May 8 to take the seat of Robert E. Jones
Robert E. Jones (judge)
Robert Edward Jones is an American politician and judge in Oregon. He is currently a senior judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in the Portland...
, who had assumed senior status on the court. Mosman was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 25, 2003, and received his federal commission the following day.
Mosman issued a temporary injunction in December 2007 to prevent Oregon's new civil union law
Domestic partnership in Oregon
In April and May 2007, following a previous attempt in 2005, the Oregon state legislature passed legislation to make virtually all of the rights afforded to married couples available to same-sex couples. The new status will be referred to in Oregon law as a domestic partnership, avoiding the use...
from taking effect in January. This was in response to a legal challenge by a group that had attempted to place a referendum on the November 2008 ballot to block the civil union law that had been passed by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
. The legal issue centered on how the Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
verified signatures on petitions. On February 1, 2008, in Lemons v. Bradbury, he dismissed the lawsuit and lifted the injunction, with the law immediately going into effect.