Ellen Rosenblum

Ellen Rosenblum
Born	Ellen F. Rosenblum 1/6/1951
Birthplace	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician, former judge
Title	17th Attorney General of Oregon
Known for	First female Attorney General of Oregon
Education	University of Oregon (BA, JD)
Spouse(s)	Richard Meeker
Awards	President of the National Association of Attorneys General (2024)
Website	https://www.ellenrosenblum.com/

Ellen F. Rosenblum (born January 6, 1951) is an American attorney, former judge, and politician who served as the 17th Attorney General of Oregon from June 29, 2012, to December 31, 2024. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to serve as attorney general in Oregon's history, a milestone in a state that had existed for over 150 years before a woman held the office. Prior to her appointment and subsequent elections as attorney general, Rosenblum served as a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals from 2005 to 2011. Born in Berkeley, California, and educated at the University of Oregon, she built a legal career spanning more than four decades that included work in private practice, federal prosecution, judicial service, and state government leadership. During her tenure as attorney general, she served under three governors — John Kitzhaber, Kate Brown, and Tina Kotek — and was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General in December 2023. After leaving office at the end of 2024, Rosenblum joined the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as senior counsel in its Washington, D.C. office, where she leads the firm's state attorneys general practice.

Early Life

Ellen F. Rosenblum was born on January 6, 1951, in Berkeley, California. She grew up in a family with connections to the legal and academic professions. Her father, Stanley Rosenblum, was from Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Rosenblum's upbringing in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1950s and 1960s placed her in one of the country's most politically and intellectually active regions. She would eventually relocate to Oregon, where she established deep roots in the legal community and built the career that would define her public life.

Education

Rosenblum attended Scripps College, a women's liberal arts institution in Claremont, California, before transferring to the University of Oregon, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She continued her legal education at the University of Oregon School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Her education at the University of Oregon rooted her firmly in the state's legal community and provided the foundation for a career that would encompass federal prosecution, private practice, the judiciary, and the state's highest law enforcement office.

Rosenblum was also involved with the American Bar Foundation, where she served as a member of the board of directors, reflecting her engagement with the broader national legal community beyond Oregon. She additionally participated in activities with the Oregon State Bar, including involvement in plenary sessions on legal ethics and professional conduct.

Career

Early Legal Career

Following her legal education, Rosenblum embarked on a career that encompassed both public service and private practice within Oregon's legal community. She worked as a federal prosecutor, gaining experience in criminal law and federal litigation. She also engaged in private legal practice, developing expertise across multiple areas of law. Her involvement in the American Bar Association and other professional legal organizations gave her a national profile within the legal profession well before she entered elected politics or sought judicial appointment.

Rosenblum's professional activities included participation in ethics and professional responsibility matters through the Oregon State Bar, where she contributed to discussions and continuing legal education efforts related to lawyer conduct and ethics. Her career in the private sector and as a federal prosecutor established the professional credentials that would later support her appointment to the bench.

Oregon Court of Appeals

In 2005, Rosenblum was appointed to the Oregon Court of Appeals, one of the state's two appellate courts. She served on the court for approximately six years, from 2005 to 2011. During her time on the appellate bench, she reviewed cases on appeal from Oregon's circuit courts and contributed to the development of the state's case law across a range of civil and criminal matters.

Rosenblum's tenure on the Court of Appeals provided her with extensive judicial experience and a comprehensive understanding of Oregon's legal system from the perspective of the bench. This experience would prove significant in her subsequent campaign for attorney general, as it gave her credibility as a legal professional with both prosecutorial and judicial backgrounds. She stepped down from the court in 2011 in preparation for her entry into the attorney general race.

Northwestern University's alumni publication noted Rosenblum's achievements as an appellate judge and her broader contributions to the legal profession during this period.

2012 Attorney General Campaign

In January 2012, Rosenblum announced her candidacy for Oregon Attorney General, entering the race to succeed John Kroger, who chose not to seek a second term. The campaign drew attention as Rosenblum positioned herself as an experienced jurist and attorney capable of leading the Oregon Department of Justice.

The Democratic primary featured Rosenblum as a leading candidate. Willamette Week covered the approaching election, noting the competitive nature of the race. Rosenblum won the Democratic primary in May 2012, defeating Dwight Holton, a former federal prosecutor, in what became a closely watched contest.

The general election featured a Republican challenger, and The Oregonian reported on the dynamics of the race as Oregon Republicans sought to make the attorney general contest competitive.

Appointment and First Term as Attorney General

Before the general election took place, Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Rosenblum to serve as attorney general on June 29, 2012, following Kroger's departure from office. With her appointment, Rosenblum became the 17th Attorney General of Oregon and the first woman to hold the position in state history.

As attorney general, Rosenblum led the Oregon Department of Justice, which is responsible for representing the state in legal matters, enforcing consumer protection laws, providing legal counsel to state agencies, and overseeing a range of civil and criminal legal functions. She won election to the office in November 2012, securing a full four-year term.

Subsequent Terms and Major Initiatives

Rosenblum was reelected as Oregon Attorney General multiple times, ultimately serving three full terms in addition to her initial appointed period. She announced in 2023 that she would seek reelection for what would be her final term.

During her tenure, Rosenblum served under three successive Oregon governors: John Kitzhaber (2012–2015), Kate Brown (2015–2023), and Tina Kotek (2023–2024). This extended service provided institutional continuity for the Oregon Department of Justice across multiple administrations.

In 2020, Rosenblum's office attracted national attention in connection with events in Portland, Oregon, during widespread protests. The BBC reported on legal actions and developments involving the Oregon Attorney General's office during this period. Rosenblum's office took legal positions regarding the deployment of federal law enforcement in Portland, filing lawsuits and seeking restraining orders related to federal agents' activities during the protests.

Throughout her tenure, Rosenblum's office was involved in multistate litigation on consumer protection, environmental issues, and other matters of significance to Oregon. She worked collaboratively with other state attorneys general on national legal matters, building relationships and a reputation within the national attorneys general community that would culminate in her election as president of their national organization.

Rosenblum also appeared on C-SPAN in connection with her official duties, participating in public discussions and events related to her role as attorney general.

Election as NAAG President

In December 2023, Rosenblum was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) during the organization's annual meeting. The election recognized her lengthy tenure and leadership within the attorneys general community. The NAAG described her as a "three-term Oregon Attorney General" at the time of her election, acknowledging her multiple successful campaigns for the office.

The NAAG presidency placed Rosenblum in a leadership role among the nation's state attorneys general, a position of influence on national legal policy discussions and interstate legal cooperation. She held this position during the final year of her service as Oregon's attorney general.

Departure from Office

Rosenblum's tenure as attorney general concluded on December 31, 2024. In a farewell message addressed to all Oregonians, she noted that she would welcome attendees at the swearing-in ceremony for her successor, Dan Rayfield, at 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The transition marked the end of more than twelve years of service in the attorney general's office.

Shortly after leaving office, in early January 2025, the Oregon Supreme Court considered whether to approve Rosenblum's appointment as a senior judge, which would have allowed her to continue serving in a judicial capacity on a part-time or as-needed basis.

Post-Government Career

In 2025, Rosenblum joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, a major international law firm, as senior counsel in its Washington, D.C. office. At Freshfields, she leads the firm's state attorneys general practice, advising clients on matters involving state-level enforcement and regulatory issues.

The hire was reported by multiple legal industry publications, including Bloomberg Law and Law360, both of which highlighted her status as the first woman to serve as Oregon's attorney general. Her work at Freshfields includes advising on enforcement priorities such as algorithmic pricing and the use of personal data, areas that have drawn increasing regulatory scrutiny.

Personal Life

Ellen Rosenblum is married to Richard Meeker, who has been involved in Oregon media and publishing. The couple has been based in Oregon, where Rosenblum established her legal and political career after moving from California.

Rosenblum has maintained connections to various legal and civic organizations throughout her career. Her involvement with the American Bar Association and the American Bar Foundation reflected her engagement with the legal profession at the national level, beyond her Oregon-focused public roles.

Her official campaign website, ellenrosenblum.com, served as the primary online presence for her attorney general campaigns.

Recognition

Rosenblum's most significant recognition came with her election as president of the National Association of Attorneys General in December 2023, an honor that reflected the esteem in which she was held by her peers among the nation's state attorneys general. The position placed her at the head of the primary professional organization for state attorneys general across the United States.

Her historic status as the first female attorney general of Oregon has been noted consistently throughout her career in coverage by Oregon and national media outlets. When she joined Freshfields in 2025, both Law360 and Bloomberg Law highlighted this distinction in their headlines.

Her candidacy and filing records were documented by the Oregon Secretary of State's office, reflecting her participation in multiple electoral cycles as a candidate for attorney general.

Vote Smart, a nonpartisan political research organization, maintained a comprehensive profile of Rosenblum's political career, including her biographical information and public record.

Legacy

Ellen Rosenblum's legacy in Oregon politics and law is defined primarily by her role as the first woman to serve as the state's attorney general, a position she held for more than twelve years. Her tenure was among the longest in the history of the office, spanning from 2012 to 2024 and encompassing service under three governors.

Her career trajectory — from federal prosecutor to appellate judge to attorney general — represented a comprehensive engagement with Oregon's legal system from multiple institutional perspectives. The breadth of her experience informed her leadership of the Oregon Department of Justice and contributed to her election as president of the National Association of Attorneys General.

The transition to private practice at Freshfields following her government service reflected a pattern common among former senior government officials, bringing her expertise in state enforcement and regulatory matters to the private sector. Her role leading the firm's state attorneys general practice drew on the extensive network and institutional knowledge she accumulated during her years in office.

Rosenblum's successor, Dan Rayfield, was sworn in on December 31, 2024, with Rosenblum herself participating in the transition ceremony, marking a collegial handoff of the office she had led for over a decade.