Amanda Rockman
The Judge
Amanda Rockman ’01, JD’05
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Our Ten Questions
- 1. What is your favorite flavor of Babcock ice cream?
Chocolate peanut butter - 2. What do you most miss about campus?
I miss Library Mall. Although, this may seem silly, I spent a lot of lunch hours watching passersby, listening to live music, speakers, enjoying the array of food carts and the fresh fruit stand.
- 3. What is your favorite mode of transportation?
Madison is extremely bike-user friendly. When I lived off campus, it was my favorite mode of transportation. When I lived on campus, everything was within walking distance, so my favorite mode was my two feet. - 4. What items would you take to a desert island?
How long am I on the desert island? In terms of items, I guess a generator because I love electronics, including, but not limited to, my iPod and laptop. However, I wouldn't want to be lonely, so I would also take my children, Alena and John. - 5. What was your first job?
My first job at UW-Madison was at the Great Dane Brew Pub on King Street. - 6. Who is your hero?
My heroes are my parents. - 7. What are you reading now?
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and I Am America (and so can you!) by Stephen Colbert. It seems like they are two opposite ends of the spectrum, and usually I don't like to read more than one book at a time. However, I purchased A Thousand Splendid Suns because I really enjoyed Kite Runner. Then, I received I Am America (and so can you!) as a gift. Anyway, I started paging through the latter, and I decided to read both simultaneously. - 8. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
"All you can do is your best, and you will always be satisfied knowing it was your best." -Joyce Rockman (my mother). She was correct. Throughout my student career of undergraduate and graduate studies, I had to continuously balance employment, extracurricular groups, and studies, then while in law school, I added children into the mix. However, I became a master of time management, and I always knew that everything that I churned out, I put 100 percent of my effort into it. It's an extremely rare occasion that I look back at my life and wish that I could've done more. - 9. What's on your iPod?
Everything from Death Cab for Cutie to Buena Vista Social Club to Jay and the Americans to Justin Timberlake, as well as a series of audiobooks for the kids to listen to in the car, including the Harry Potter series. - 10. What is your proudest UW achievement?
I am extremely proud of my UW experience overall, both undergraduate and graduate. At UW Law School, I received an award for the highest grade in Advanced Federal Indian Law. The class was extremely challenging, however the classroom atmosphere was familial and relaxed. I worked very, very hard in the class, and I was very proud that I was able to receive the award.
Profile
Amanda Rockman ’01, JD’05
UW majors: anthropology, French, American Indian studies
Career: Associate trial judge, Ho Chunk Nation
Title?
When elevated to the bench in 2006, Amanda Rockman became one of America’s youngest judges — and one of the leaders of the Ho Chunk nation. Her case load ranges from family law to constitutional questions to inter-governmental disputes.
Rockman came to the UW seeking inspiration, but what she found, she says, was lasting friendships and mentorships. She threw herself into campus life, working in leadership positions with the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s music committee and the native student group, Wunk Sheek, while maintaining a triple major.
A year after she graduated, she returned to campus to attend law school, intending to find the most effective way to give back to the Ho Chunk community. Though involved with the Law School Faculty Association and the Indigenous Law Students Association — and though she also gave birth to two children — she managed to graduate in three years.
With a law degree in hand, she joined the Wisconsin state bar, taking up a position on the board of the state’s Indian law section. After just fifteen months of practice, she was appointed to a vacancy in the Ho Chunk judiciary. Today, she not only presides over her own courtroom, but she also works with Native judges across the state and nation to create intertribal legal networks and revive American Indian legal systems.
Outside of the courtroom, she’s a board member with the Children’s Learning Village Montessori and an active participant in the annual Coming Together Peoples Indian Law Conference.
Amanda's Essay
The University of Wisconsin has made an invaluable impact on my life, and helped shape my career. I've always loved UW, from the moment I first visited the campus in 1996, as a potential student. The UW campus has been a place of great significance in my life — a source of great inspiration and gratification, specifically the gratification of lasting friendships and mentorships. The faculty and administration undoubtedly shaped my career, particularly the Native community. As an undergraduate, members of the Native community fostered my involvement in extracurricular activities. I became a member of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the Music Committee after I spoke at length with Linda Matti. Ada Deer, Ned Blackhawk, and Aaron Bird Bear were involved with the Native student group, Wunk Sheek. Through their mentorship, I worked hard as a student leader. I became a well-rounded person; I juggled studies, work, extracurricular activities, and social relationships! At the end of my four four-year tenure, I secured degrees in Anthropology, French, and American Indian Studies. At that point, I learned the significance of giving back to the Native Community. I took a year or so off to work, but ultimately knew that I wished to go back to school for a juris doctorate and work for my tribe. I also knew that I wished to attend the University of Wisconsin Law School, and in large part it was due to the community atmosphere. During my first semester, I was pregnant with my daughter, Alena, and during my last semester, I was pregnant with my son, John. Everyone at UW Law School was supportive; this includes all of the faculty and administration, in particular, Professor Kidwell, Professor Palay, Professor Laverdure, Professor Monette and Dean Robarts. The old adage, it takes a village to raise children … actually embodied my experience at UW. Through everyone’s support and commitment to my education, I remained committed to my studies and student groups, including the Law School Family Association and the Indigenous Law Students Association. Upon graduation, I recognized the importance of community, and particularly giving back. I returned to my tribe, the Ho-Chunk Nation. I started as an attorney, and within 15 months, I was nominated and confirmed as an Associate Judge for the Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court. I remain committed to my community, and with the tools that I learned at UW, I continue to juggle professional commitments, extracurricular activities, and familial obligations.