Below is Senator Udall’s speech on Bill Martinez’s nomination, as prepared for delivery:

Madam President, I rise today to urge my colleagues not to block an opportunity to vote on an
outstanding nominee to the Federal Bench, William Martinez. Bill’s story is an inspirational
one, and I will share that with you in a moment. But first, I want to talk about why there is such
urgency to confirm this fine nominee.

The situation in the Colorado District Court is dire. There are currently five Judges on the court
and two vacancies – both of which are rated as judicial emergencies by the Administrative Office
of the U.S. Courts.

These five judges have been handling the work of seven judges for nearly two years, and it has
been over three years since our court had a full roster of judges.

But Madam President, there is more. In 2008, based on the significant caseload in Colorado, the
Judicial Conference of the United States recommended that an eighth judgeship be created.

Madam President, I would like to submit for the record a letter from Chief Judge Wiley Daniel to
Leaders Reid and McConnell explaining the profound impact this vacancy is having on the court
in the District of Colorado.

Judicial understaffing in Colorado has a real impact on the residents and businesses in our state.
As the caseload increases for each judge, more and more time must be devoted to criminal cases
– this is because of the Constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial.

But as time and energy shifts to clearing the criminal docket, the civil docket suffers. It
continues to become increasingly difficult to schedule a trial in Colorado as the backup grows
longer.

This increased caseload has a significant impact on our rural and tribal communities around the
state as well. The federal district judges are all located in Denver, but they often need to travel to
other parts of the state for hearings or trials.

However, the geography of Colorado makes travel a little more complicated than in some other
states – we have a big state with the Rocky Mountains cutting right through the middle. And I
can tell you from experience, getting around the mountainous areas of Colorado during the
snowy winter months is not easy.

As a result, residents on the Western Slope of my state, and tribal residents, have a more difficult
time accessing the federal judicial system – as plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses.

Madam President, as pressing as the situation is in Colorado, I know that it is not unique. Of the
nearly 100 current judicial vacancies, 42 are considered judicial emergencies. I understand that
the Senate has confirmed 24 nominees so far this year, and 36 total since President Obama was
elected – which is a historic low.
Now I don’t want to turn this nomination into a partisan affair. But the Senate has not kept up
with the pace of past presidents’ judicial nominees. In fact, last year the Senate confirmed the
fewest judges in 50 years.

Bill Martinez was nominated in February of this year, had a hearing in March and was referred
favorably by the Judiciary Committee in April. Today, his nomination has been sitting on the
Senate Executive Calendar for 105 days. We need to stop allowing this partisan fight to interfere
with our justice system. The people of Colorado want us to vote on Bill Martinez and help
reduce the workload on the Federal District Court of Colorado.

Last year, to ensure that only the best candidates would be put forth, Senator Bennet and I
convened a bipartisan advisory committee that was ably chaired by Denver lawyer, Hal Haddon,
and former Colorado Supreme Court Justice, Rebecca Kourlis. The committee interviewed
numerous candidates, and based on his life experience, his record of legal service, and his
impressive abilities, it recommended Bill Martinez for a federal judgeship. I was equally
impressed by Bill.

In addition to being an accomplished attorney and a true role model in the community, Bill has a
personal story that captures what is great about America and highlights what can be
accomplished with focus, discipline and extraordinary hard work.

Bill was born in Mexico City and lawfully immigrated to the United States as a child. He
worked his way through school and college and toward a career in law. He received
undergraduate degrees in environmental engineering and political science from the University of
Illinois, and he earned his law degree from the University of Chicago.

As a lawyer, Bill has become an expert in employment and civil rights law. He currently
practices employment and civil rights law and previously served as regional attorney for the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Denver.

I believe in strong, well-balanced courts that serve the needs of our citizens. Bill Martinez brings
that sense of balance because of his broad legal background, professionalism, and outstanding
intellect. I am pleased to have recommended Bill, and I am certain that, once confirmed, he will
make an outstanding judge.

Madam President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that, at a time to be

determined by the majority leader following consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate
proceed to executive session and consider the following nomination on the Executive Calendar:
Calendar No. 813, William Martinez, to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of
Colorado; that the nomination be debated for up to 3 hours, with the time equally divided and
controlled between Senators Leahy and Sessions or their designees; that upon the use or yielding
back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination; that upon
confirmation, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the President
be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session.
Madam President, it is disappointing that we cannot get consent for an up-or-down vote on Bill
Martinez. I want to make clear to all Coloradans watching the Senate proceedings today that I
attempted to bring this nomination for a vote, but the minority party has objected. It’s a shame.

But I will not give up. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as
well as any Senator who might have reason to block this nomination, to find a reasonable
solution that would allow an up-or-down vote on Bill Martinez.

###