Rep. Doggett Statement on Senate Confirmation of Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo for Federal Judgeship in Laredo

October 3, 2011

Washington—Today,U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Chair of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation,issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge MarinaGarcia Marmolejo's nomination for a federal judgeship in Laredo:

"OurTexasDemocratic Delegation recommended Marina Garcia Marmolejo on May 13, 2009, andshe was officially nominated by President Obama, first on July 28, 2010, andagain renominated at the beginning of the current Congress. Despite initiallyconcurring with our recommendation, our Texas Senators permitted her confirmation tolinger for more than a year. Born in NuevoLaredo, Tamaulipas Mexico, and naturalized as a United States citizen, Marmolejo representshistoric change in the diversity of the Texasfederal judiciary and is an inspiration to young Latinas in South Texas.

"InMarch, 2009, President Obama announced he would not make Texas justice nominations without "the confirmed support"of the TexasDemocratic delegation. To date, every judge named here has met that standard,including Marmolejo, Judge Diana Saldana and Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, all ofwhom have now been confirmed. While our recommendations are working tostrengthen and diversify the federal judiciary in Texas, we await overdue action on the remaining judicialvacancies in Texas."

The remaining judicial vacancies inTexas are:

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