Peter Kirsanow was appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights by President George W. Bush in December 2001, but Chairwoman Mary Frances Berry told the White House that it would take federal marshals to seat Kirsanow, fighting his appointment all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In May 2002 the United States Department of Justice prevailed in its lawsuit to seat Kirsanow as a member of the Commission. He was reappointed by President Bush to serve a second six-year term on the commission.

President Bush appointed Kirsanow to the five-member NLRB in 2006 for two years. Kirsanow returned to the Cleveland law firm of Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, where he is a partner with the firm's Labor & Employment Practice Group and a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He represents management in employment-related litigation, contract negations, NLRB proceedings and EEO matters.

Kirsanow has written articles for National Review since 2003. Kirsanow testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the nominations of John Roberts,Samuel,Alito Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court and at the confirmation hearing for Jeff Sessions nomination for United States Attorney General. Peter is also a published author.