Alumni Spotlight: Roopali Desai

Image

Alumna Roopali Desai (JD ‘05, MPH ‘01, BA ‘00) was confirmed by the United States Senate this past August to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, becoming the first South Asian judge to sit on the country's largest federal appeals court. The confirmation took place after a 67–29 vote, the most votes that any circuit court nominee has received since President Biden took office and just 50 days after her initial nomination, the fastest of any Circuit Court nominee since the Clinton Administration. 

“I never thought it was possible for someone like myself to be in this position, but I want the next generation, and my daughters, to see that it is possible,” said Desai.

As a law student, Desai knew she wanted to work in the public sector helping vulnerable populations. She was drawn to litigation from the beginning, always enjoying public speaking, persuasion and thinking outside the box. While in law school, Desai was a legal intern for the office of the federal public defender in the district of Arizona. 

Following law school, she clerked for then-Chief Judge Mary M. Schroeder of the US court of appeals for the ninth circuit. In 2006 she worked as an associate at Lewis & Roca before joining the Phoenix law firm Coppersmith Brockelman, as a political and election attorney, where she continued to practice until her recent confirmation.  

While at Coopersmith Brockelman, Desai worked on some of the highest-profile statewide cases of the last four years, including a suit to overturn laws banning COVID-19 risk mitigation policies; representing the Arizona Secretary of State in 11 successful election-related lawsuits in 2020; and serving as lead counsel for two citizen initiatives, Prop 207 (adult-use marijuana) and Prop 208 (Invest in Education), in the 2020 General Election. She was named the Arizona honoree among USA Today’s “Women of the Year” in March, after becoming prominent for her work fighting lawsuits over Biden’s election victory in Arizona. 

Desai is a triple Wildcat, with her Bachelor’s, Master’s and JD all from the University of Arizona,