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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today the Senate is poised to confirm another outstanding judicial nominee: Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr., nominated to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Mendoza is a highly experienced jurist with a lifelong commitment to public and community service. After graduating from the University of Washington and UCLA School of Law, Judge Mendoza joined the office of the Franklin County, WA prosecuting attorney, where he handled a range of felony and misdemeanor cases. Following this role, Judge Mendoza entered private legal practice, simultaneously serving as a judge pro tempore on various Washington State municipal, district, and juvenile courts. He then served 2 years on the Washington State superior court.

In 2014, President Obama nominated Judge Mendoza to the Eastern District of Washington, and the Senate confirmed him on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, 92-4. Judge Mendoza has distinguished himself on the bench, presiding over dozens of trials and demonstrating evenhandedness and impartiality in all matters that have come before him. And once confirmed, Judge Mendoza will be the first judge of Hispanic origin to sit on a Washington seat on the Ninth Circuit.

The American Bar Association has unanimously rated Judge Mendoza ``well qualified,'' and he enjoys the strong support of his home State Senators, Mrs. Murray and Ms. Cantwell.

I will support Judge Mendoza's confirmation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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