Madam President, I also rise today in support of Bill Martinez’s nomination to serve on the federal district court in Colorado. I want to add my push today for the Senior Senator from Colorado’s unanimous consent request to consider this nomination of Bill Martinez. We need him confirmed so he can begin serving our state.Bill appeared before the Judiciary Committee in March, where I had the privilege of introducing him. His nomination passed the Committee with votes to spare, in April.
The Martinez nomination, like so many others, has gotten stuck – because of the obstructionist tactics of a few, so this man, with a breadth of public and private sector legal experience that makes him more than qualified to serve on the federal bench, is being held up month after month.
Like my Senior Senator, I’m frustrated with the secret delays in this body. The purposeless shelving of nominations such as this one and even of important legislation, affects real lives and poisons the atmosphere in the Senate.
There are 99 vacancies in federal courts right now. To date, the President has nominated 39 individuals to fill these vacancies. For the sake of judicial efficiency and ensuring fair access to our courts, I think it is time we move ahead on outstanding nominees that have cleared the Judiciary Committee easily.
For the nominees, careers and families are being put on hold. If a nominee is unqualified or unfit for office, then let’s have those concerns registered for public consumption.
Madam President, like far too many Coloradans, I am so frustrated with our broken politics. Instead of making sure that qualified candidates are confirmed to key government posts, the Senate has secret holds and stall tactics. It is painful to watch, and it’s painful for the American people to live through.
Bill Martinez, for one, has earned better treatment through a lifetime of professional achievement. He has a stellar reputation and credentials in Denver and possesses rare intangibles too – his career spans the legal profession and represents a true immigrant success story that this country is founded on. Bill was the first in his family to attend college. His experience is an inspiration to all Coloradans.
Is there any reason that this attorney with an expertise in employment law and civil rights, coupled with years of courtroom experience, should not receive an up or down vote? I, for one, would like to know, as would the people of Colorado.
I ask my colleagues to end the delay of consideration of Bill Martinez. Let’s have an up or down vote on Bill Martinez and then move forward and go through other remaining nominees being needlessly upheld.
With that, Madam President, I yield the floor.
