Rothman, Steven R. (Steven Richard), 1952-

Steven Richard Rothman (born October 14, 1952) is an American lawyer, jurist, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably served as the U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 9th congressional district between 1997 and 2013.

Born in Englewood, New Jersey, he graduated from from Tenafly High School in Tenafly, New Jersey before earning a B.A. degree from Syracuse University and a J.D. from the Washington University School of Law. Rothman started his legal career as a trial associate at the firm of Miller, Hochman, Myerson and Schaeffer in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1977. In January 1980, he started his own firm for the general practice law in Englewood in a two-room office over a barber shop on Depot Square. In 1982, he was admitted to practice law also in New York. In 1984 he was admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1982, Rothman was elected Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, the youngest mayor in the city's history.

In 1989, Rothman ran unsuccessfully as one of three Democratic candidates to fill three openings on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders (the county legislature). In 1990 and 1991, Rothman served as Treasurer of the respective Bergen County Democratic Party Freeholder races. In 1992, Rothman ran for and was chosen by the Bergen County Democratic Party to be their candidate for the elected position of Bergen County Surrogate Court Judge. Rothman won the General Election in November 1992, becoming the first attorney to serve in that position in the 148 years the position had been an elected one. In 1996, Rothman resigned as Bergen County Surrogate to run for the 9th Congressional District House seat, winning the Democratic primary and general election.

Having served as a member of both the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Rothman advocated the importance of the U.S Israel relationship, stating that the national security of the United States is directly affected by the national security of the State of Israel. Rothman was also an advocate for tax reform and comprehensive immigration reform, reasonable gun control laws, gender and marriage equality, a woman's right to choose, clean air and water, smart land and energy use and conservation, and the humane treatment of animals. After the December 23, 2011 Congressional redistricting was announced, Rothman competed in a Democratic Primary to continue to represent the redrawn 9th district. He was defeated on June 5, 2012, in a primary election by fellow incumbent Bill Pascrell.