An attorney with no prior experience as a judge, Roopali H. Desai, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as a U.S. Judge all the way up on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals . Considered by many to be a fearless and aggressive defender of radical progressives and the Arizona Democratic Party, Desai has already won over Arizona senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, who applauded the nomination.
“I have known Roopali for over 10 years. In that time, I have seen her deep respect and understanding of the law up close. She is a trusted legal expert highly regarded across the political spectrum in Arizona, known for her integrity and fairness. I am confident she will continue that legacy on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I appreciate the White House for working with me to advance her nomination,” said Sinema.
“Roopali is a respected and well-regarded legal expert in Arizona. I congratulate her on this historic nomination and appreciate the administration’s process to elevate talented and experienced Arizonans to the federal bench,” said Kelly.
Desai is a partner at Coppersmith Brockelman where she has practiced since 2007. From 2006 to 2007, Desai was an associate at Lewis & Roca. She served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Mary Schroeder on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2005 to 2006.
Desai received her J.D. in 2005, her M.P.H in 2001, and her B.A. in 2000, all from the University of Arizona.
Republicans know Desai as a highly partisan attorney, eager to attach herself to high-profile left-wing causes. “I don’t think it was a secret that she wanted to be a judge and she certainly put in the hours on behalf of the Democratic Party to get herself a nomination, but I think a lot of us are surprised that she is getting elevated all the way to the Ninth Circuit,” remarked one Capitol observer. “No judicial experience, a very partisan and hard left resume, and suddenly she is one step from the Supreme Court? Don’t let Democrats ever get away with claiming they don’t want activist judges, because this is a textbook case of trying to place an activist as high in the judicial system as you can get her.”