Martha Vázquez
Encyclopedia
Martha Alicia Vázquez is a United States federal judge
, currently the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
, and the first woman to be appointed as a federal judge
in that state.
Born in Santa Barbara
, California
, Vázquez is an alumna of the University of Notre Dame
, where she received her B.A. in 1975, followed by a J.D.
from the Notre Dame Law School
in 1978. Following a brief stint with Michigan Migrant Legal Services, she was a public defender
in New Mexico from 1979 to 1981, and then entered private practice, in Santa Fe, New Mexico
, from 1981 until her appointment to the federal bench in 1993.
Vázquez was nominated to the District Court by Bill Clinton
on August 6, 1993, to a seat vacated by Santiago E. Campos
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 30, 1993, and received her commission on October 1, 1993.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
, currently the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of New Mexico...
, and the first woman to be appointed as a federal judge
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
in that state.
Born in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Vázquez is an alumna of the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where she received her B.A. in 1975, followed by a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
in 1978. Following a brief stint with Michigan Migrant Legal Services, she was a public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
in New Mexico from 1979 to 1981, and then entered private practice, in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, from 1981 until her appointment to the federal bench in 1993.
Vázquez was nominated to the District Court by Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on August 6, 1993, to a seat vacated by Santiago E. Campos
Santiago E. Campos
Santiago E. Campos was a United States federal judge.Born in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Campos received a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1953. He was a Seaman in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1944 to 1946. He was an assistant and first assistant state...
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 30, 1993, and received her commission on October 1, 1993.