[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of David G. Estudillo

  Ms. CANTWELL. Madam President, I come to the floor this afternoon to 
support the nomination of David Estudillo to serve as district court 
judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of 
Washington.
  I am pleased to join my colleague Senator Murray in supporting Judge 
Estudillo, who was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 
bipartisan basis, and I certainly appreciate the support of both the 
chairman and the ranking member on this nomination.
  Mr. Estudillo is the son of Mexican immigrants who came to the Yakima 
Valley as part of the Bracero Program in the 1960s.
  Growing up, he learned and embraced both the culture of his parents 
and that of the United States. Judge Estudillo is a great example of 
the successes and contributions many immigrant families make to our 
great Nation.
  Judge Estudillo earned an associate of arts degree from Columbia 
Basin Community College and his bachelor of arts degree and juris 
doctorate from the University of Washington.
  After graduating from law school, Judge Estudillo practiced general 
and civil litigation and immigration law in Moses Lake and Seattle and 
tried cases in both Seattle and Tacoma immigration courts. He is well 
experienced in many issues of the law.
  He was appointed to the Grant County Superior Court in 2015 and was 
the only Latino judge in any Eastern Washington State court. Judge 
Estudillo received bipartisan support, with endorsements from both 
Democratic and Republican local officials and support from all nine of 
Washington State Supreme Court justices.
  He has earned the respect and the support of his community. To quote 
a letter that was sent to the Judiciary Committee from Mayor David 
Curnel of Moses Lake, WA, he said Judge Estudillo ``is a respected 
member of our community. He is involved in our community. He is 
committed to our community. This is what I understand about Judge 
Estudillo and why I can recommend him highly for a Federal judge 
position.''
  In short, Judge Estudillo is a well-qualified jurist, and he has 
dedicated his entire legal career to practicing and supporting his 
community. I am pleased to have recommended him along with my colleague 
Senator Murray to the President. I know his strong character and 
respect for the rule of law, a sense of justice, fairness, humility, 
empathy, and capacity for compassion and understanding would be a 
benefit to the court and all the parties concerned.
  I urge my colleagues to support Judge Estudillo's nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.