Martin Heinrich: “I would like to take a few minutes to also speak about the nomination of Kenneth Gonzales to be a Federal district judge…”

“I would like to take a few minutes to also speak about the nomination of Kenneth Gonzales to be a Federal district judge for the District of New Mexico. Ken, as he is known back home to many of us, is truly a standout nominee. I wish I could take credit for his nomination, but that credit belongs to our former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman and to our senior Senator Tom Udall. But I want to thank both of them for putting forward such a great candidate for this position, and I am very pleased to be here today to support him. Ken has a long and distinguished record of public service, including more than a decade of service in our military. Ken has served as the U.S. attorney for New Mexico since April 2010. His elevation to lead that office followed more than a decade of service there as an assistant U.S. attorney. I would like to highlight at least one of his many accomplishments that I find particularly important. I think Ken's efforts as U.S. attorney demonstrate not only his character and his intellect but the dedication that he has to serving his home State and making it a better place for all our residents. Much of New Mexico is Indian Country for which the U.S. attorney has the responsibility to prosecute criminal activity. Ken has taken the initiative to reorganize and focus the U.S. attorney's resources to more effectively combat the higher-than-average rates of violent crime, sexual assault, and sexual abuse that have plagued Indian Country.…”