Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger

Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger (b. 1975, Clearwater, Florida) is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on September 15, 2015, and confirmed to her position by the Senate on February 8, 2016.^[1][2]

Ebinger was previously a judge of District 5C of Iowa. She was appointed to this position by Governor Terry Branstad in November 2012 to replace Judge Artis Reis.^[3] She was retained in 2014 for a term that would have expired on December 31, 2020, had she not transitioned to the federal district court in 2016.^[4]

Education

Ebinger earned her B.S.F.S from Georgetown University in 1997 and her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2004.^[3][1]

Federal judicial nomination

Southern District of Iowa

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
Name: Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
Progress
Confirmed 146 days after nomination.
Nominated: September 15, 2015
ABA Rating: Unanimously Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
Hearing: October 21, 2015
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
Reported: November 5, 2015
Confirmed: February 8, 2016
Vote: 83-0

Ebinger was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa by President Barack Obama on September 15, 2015. President Obama on the nomination:

^[1]

The American Bar Association rated Ebinger Unanimously Qualified for the nomination.^[6]

Ebinger's hearing was held on October 21, 2015, and her nomination was reported to the full Senate on November 5, 2015, on a voice vote. She was confirmed to the position by the Senate on February 8, 2016, by a vote of 83 to 0.^[7][2]

Professional career

• 2012-2016: Judge, Iowa District 5C
• 2011-2012: Assistant United States attorney, Criminal Division, Southern District of Iowa
• 2009-2011: Assistant United States attorney, Criminal Division, Northern District of Iowa
• 2006-2008: Law clerk, Michael Melloy, United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
• 2004-2006: Special assistant United States attorney, Northern District of Iowa
• 2003-2004: Extern, United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut
• 2003-2004: Dean's advisor for transfer students, Yale Law School
• 2003: Law clerk, Central Intelligence Agency^[3][1]

Elections

2014

Ebinger was retained to the District 5C Court with 71.9 percent of the vote on November 4, 2014. ^[4] 

Awards and associations

Note: All awards and associations listed below are recorded as they appeared on Brown's Senate Committee on the Judiciary questionnaire.

Awards

• 2011: Award for outstanding service and cooperation in the enforcement of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, United States Marshals Service in the South District of Iowa
• 2010: Award from Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General
• From the Northern District of Iowa United States Attorney's Office:

2010:

• Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding appellate work
• Certificate of Appreciation for additional duties
• Certificate of Appreciation for excellent prosecution efforts and perseverance

2006:

• Certificate of Commendation for firearms forfeiture
• Certificate of Commendation for outstanding efficiency

• 2004: Potter Stewart Prize, Yale Law School
• 2002: William A.R. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship, William and Mary School of Law
• 2002:

• CALI Excellence award (highest grade in Torts), William and Mary School of Law
• CALI Excellence award (highest grade in Criminal Law), William and Mary School of Law

Associations

• 2015-Present: Member, Iowa Supreme Court Working Group on the Iowa Rules of Evidence
• 2014-Present: Member, Iowa Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Criminal Procedure
• 2014-Present: Section Lead, plea and sentencing, Committee to Revise Iowa Judicial Bench Book
• 2012-Present: Member, Polk County Bar Association

• 2015-Present: Bench-Bar Committee

• 2012-Present: Barrister and Master, C. Edwin Moore American Inn of Court
• 2012-Present: Member, Iowa Judges Association
• 2012-Present: Member, National Association of Women Judges
• 2012-Present: Member, Polk County Courthouse Security Committee
• 2012-Present: Member, Polk County Women Attorneys
• 2004-Present: Member, Iowa State Bar Association

• 2015-Present: Bench Bar Committee

• 2004-Present: Member, Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys

• 2007-2012: Board Member

• 2013-2014: Member, American Judges Association
• 2004-2011: Member, Linn County Bar Association
• 2004-2011: Member, Linn Law Club

• 2009-2010: Vice President

See also

• United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
• United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
• Polk County, Iowa
• Iowa District Courts

External links

• The White House, "President Obama Nominates Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to Serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa," September 15, 2015
• Iowa Judicial Branch, "District Five Judges and Magistrates"

Footnotes