On the recordDecember 21, 2010
I rise today to state my strong support for the nomination of Bill Martinez to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Having recommended his candidacy to the President, along with my colleague Senator Udall, I believe he is eminently qualified for the Federal bench. Bill was nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado in February of this year. His nomination cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee in April. Since then, he has been in a state of limbo awaiting a final vote allowing him to serve. That is why I am very grateful for the hard work of the Judiciary Committee, both Democrats and Republicans, who have moved this nomination forward and are trying to finish it before the end of the 111th Congress. Our State has two vacancies on the district court. Both vacancies are over 2 years old, with one close to 3 years old. Because there are only seven Federal judgeships in our State, the other judges are facing ever-growing caseloads, resulting in significant backlogs for those seeking justice. In fact, the administrative office of the courts has declared the vacancy situation in Colorado a judicial emergency. It is important that we move these nominations forward to prevent further backlogs and judicial emergencies, and I pledge to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure we can work together to confirm judicial nominees such as Bill Martinez in a timely manner.
