[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3824-S3825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Angela M. Martinez

  Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Angela 
Martinez to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
  Born in Tucson, AZ, Judge Martinez received both her B.A. and J.D. 
from the University of Arizona.
  After clerking for the late Judge John M. Rolle on the U.S. District 
Court for the District of Arizona, Judge Martinez began her legal 
career in private practice as an associate at Lewis and Roca, LLP, 
where she litigated employment and commercial matters. She then joined 
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, where she 
represented the United States in illegal immigration prosecutions, 
alien and drug smuggling offenses, and hostage taking and international 
kidnapping cases. She later returned to private practice as an 
associate at Farhang & Medcoff PLLC before serving as a law clerk for 
Judge Jennifer G. Zipps on the U.S. District Court for the District of 
Arizona. Judge Martinez returned to the U.S. attorney's office for 
nearly a decade before she was appointed to serve as a U.S. magistrate 
judge on the same district to which she is nominated.
  The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Martinez ``well 
qualified,'' and she has the strong support of her home State Senators, 
Ms. Sinema and Mr. Kelly. Judge Martinez's deep ties to the Arizona 
legal community, combined with her courtroom experience, will make her 
well-positioned to serve on the Federal bench with distinction.
  I thank my colleagues for supporting her nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.

[[Page S3825]]

  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this is an amazing moment in the history 
of the Senate and of all Senates because in just a few moments, the 
Senate will confirm Angela Martinez to be a district judge for the 
District of Arizona. Judge Martinez will be the 200th Federal judge 
under the Biden administration and this Democratic majority. Reaching 
200 judges is a major milestone.
  Simply put, our 200 judges comprise the most diverse slate of 
judicial nominations under any President in American history. Our 
Federal judiciary is now far more balanced, far more diverse, far more 
experienced than it was just a few years before President Biden took 
office.
  I am so proud of the 200 judges. Mr. President, 127 are women, and 
125 are people of color. That is a majority of the judges--more than a 
majority. Over 60 percent are women. Two-thirds women, two-thirds 
people of color; 58 Black judges, 37 Black women judges--each a record; 
36 Hispanic judges, 33 Asian American Pacific Island judges--also a 
record. It is amazing.
  Also, there is not just demographic diversity but professional 
diversity. It is not just a lot of White male partners in big fancy law 
firms anymore; it is people who are public defenders, civil rights 
lawyers, labor lawyers, immigration lawyers, consumer lawyers. We have 
so much greater diversity on the bench, and that is so good for America 
because the bench, the powerful Federal judiciary filled with lifetime 
appointments, should reflect America. It has taken too long to get to 
this point. We still have more ground to make up, but we are getting 
there, and we are so proud of it. And, of course, the first Black woman 
to serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
  Ever since I have gotten on the Judiciary Committee, it has been my 
goal to diversify the bench. The judges I have chosen in New York have 
been like that for over two decades. But now, under the Biden 
administration and under the great leadership of Chairman Durbin and 
his Judiciary Committee, we have really moved forward.
  I want to give special consideration--because she works full time on 
this--to my nominations director--we work so closely with the White 
House--and that is Catalina Tam, who has been so important and so 
dedicated behind the scenes in getting these judges confirmed.
  This is a really fine day for America. When you look at all the 
trouble and all the things swirling around, and then you realize so 
many fine people who never would have even had access to the Federal 
bench are getting on the bench, it gives you faith in the future of 
this great country.
  I yield the floor.