Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein received the highest possible rating from the American Bar Association on Wednesday as he attemptsto win the Senate?s approval for a federal judgeship.
Nominated by President George W. Bush but opposed by Maryland?s two U.S. senators, Rosenstein declined to comment on the ABA?s rating, which was posted on the organization?s Web site Wednesday.
But representatives for Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin, who are opposing the nomination, said the senators remained unswayed.
“The ABA?s rating is about his legal experience,” said Sue Walitsky, Cardin?s spokeswoman. “That doesn?t have any bearing in terms of his Maryland-specific experience. The senator told President Bush, ?Here?s a list of Republicans we would be open to,? please work with us.? Party is not an issue here.”
Mikulski?s spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said the senator was well aware that Rosenstein was qualified.
“They have a good relationship,” she said of Mikulski and Rosenstein. “It?s not about him. It?s about keeping our U.S. attorney in Maryland.”
The lead ABA representative who prepared the report on Rosenstein, Harry Johnson, contacted dozens of lawyers and judges, including every federal judge in Maryland.
One of those contacted, Martin S. Himeles Jr., former president of the Federal Bar Association and a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP in Baltimore, said he gave Rosenstein a glowing recommendation.
“He is a very smart, very capable guy,” Himeles said. “I say that without any reservation. He is extremely bright.”
In November, President Bush nominated Rosenstein, Maryland?s top federal prosecutor since 2005, to a open seat on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.
