[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONFIRMATION OF MATTHEW GARCIA

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the confirmation of 
Matthew Garcia to the U.S. District Court for the District of New 
Mexico.
  Mr. Garcia is an experienced litigator with deep ties to the New 
Mexico legal community. He received degrees from the University of New 
Mexico, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and the University of 
New Mexico School of Law before establishing a career in civil rights 
litigation. Mr. Garcia represented plaintiffs in religious liberty, 
unlawful discrimination, and wage theft cases. He also gained 
experience in multistate antitrust actions and personal injury matters. 
In 2019, Mr. Garcia left private practice and joined the New Mexico 
State government as general counsel to New Mexico Governor Michelle 
Lujan Grisham. He now serves as her chief of staff and advises on 
issues related to State constitutional questions and statutory 
interpretation.
  Throughout his career, Mr. Garcia has appeared frequently in State 
and Federal court. His breadth of experience in government and the 
private sector will make him ready to serve on the District of New 
Mexico from day one. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Mr. 
Garcia ``well qualified,'' and he has the strong support of his home-
State Senators, Mr. Heinrich and Mr. Lujan.
  I supported his nomination and was glad to see him confirmed.

                          ____________________