Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I am very pleased that I am the first person to speak on behalf of Judge Phil Martinez to be a United States District…”

“I am very pleased that I am the first person to speak on behalf of Judge Phil Martinez to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas. Of all the courts in the country that are desperate for judges, those on the United States-Mexico border have the most critical need. According to statistics from 2000, the Western District of Texas handles the most criminal cases in the country, 4,434 per year, while the Southern District of Texas, for which Randy Crane awaits confirmation, has the third highest level after California's Southern District. Currently, the Western District of Texas is facing a criminal caseload of 1,983 pending cases and 2,758 defendants waiting for trial because we do not have these judgeships filled. In El Paso, 884 cases are pending overall, more than any other region in the district. Each day, more cases are added, overwhelming an already overburdened Western District. Relief is needed. Our war against terrorism is heating up as well as our war on drugs. Therefore, it is more crucial that we have highly qualified judges and law enforcement officials in charge of our justice system along the United States-Mexico border.”