Three Latino Nominees for District Judges Pending Approval in Congress

By Raisa Camargo, Voxxi

Three notable individuals of the Hispanic community, who were nominated by president Obama, are still in the process of their confirmation for district judges, but Senators signaled high praises during a Wednesday hearing.

All three nominees were selected last year by the president because of their past credentials in the legal arena and harbor close affiliation with the Hispanic community.

The nominations include Kenneth John Gonzales for United States District Judge of New Mexico; Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro as United States District Judge for the Eastern district of Pennsylvania and Luis Felipe Restrepo for District Judge of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Two of those nominees would serve a lifetime appointment as district judges for the Eastern district of Pennsylvania. They include the first openly gay Hispanic judge Quinones and Colombian born lawyer Restrepo.

Nitza Quiñones, the first openly gay judge

Since 1991, judge Quinones has served as a trial judge in Philadelphia City and was the first state court judge that was Hispanic. She also helped found the Hispanic Bar Association in Pennsylvania and helped mentor law students.

“I remember at that time when that appointment was made we were proud of it at that time and nothing has happened in the interim to diminish that pride that we have in her work,” said Sen. Robert Casey J.R., during the Senate hearing on judicial nominations.

“I have no doubt that she will serve with distinction as a member of the federal bench.”

Luis Felipe Restrepo has a wide variety of experience

Restrepo, who served as a magistrate judge, has had a wide variety of experiences serving as an assistant federal defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He became a United States citizen in 1993.

Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-PA.) signaled that both are impartial and harbor close relationships with the Latino community.

“Aside from his legal duties, he’s devoted significant time to his community founding the Police Barrio project, an organization focused on improving relationships between the Philadelphia Police Department and the Latino community in Philadelphia,” said Toomey.

Kenneth John Gonzales, a notable attorney in New Mexico

New Mexico Democratics Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich introduced Gonzales as a notable attorney in New Mexico noting that he has made Indian County prosecutions a priority. Throughout his tenure as U.S. attorney in New Mexico, he has prosecuted a wide range of offenses including immigration, narcotics and violent crime. He also serves on the Attorney gen. advisory subcommittee on native american issues and southwest border and immigration issues.

“Ken Gonzales is an exceptionally well-qualified nominee,” said Udall. ”He has shown a reverence for—and dedication to—the law throughout his career. In both civilian and military positions, he has exhibited great expertise, commitment and depth of judgment and I urge his confirmation.”

If  confirmed Udall noted that he would join 56 other Hispanic district court judges, less than 10 percent of the country’s 677 district court judgeships.

Gonzales brought his family along with him to the hearing including his two children, wife and mother-in-law. He went on to acknowledge his father and mother.

“My mother Florence Gonzales who has defined I think by how she has put her children and grandchildren ahead of herself in every way,” said Gonzales.

There are currently 90 district vacancies and this was 50 more vacancies than at the same point of the George Bush presidency. This is the longest period of historically vacancy rates in more than 35 years, according to the Congressional Research Service.

This article was first published in Voxxi.

Raisa Camargo is a staff writer at Voxxi.