Colorado’s US Senators Michael Bennet (D) and Cory Gardner (R) jointly asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to swiftly confirm the nominee for U.S District Court of Colorado, Regina Rodriguez. President Obama nominated Rodriguez to fill the vacancy in the U.S District Court of Colorado at Gardner and Bennet’s suggestion, following Judge Robert Blackburn’s declaration of senior status this April.
The Senators wrote to Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) asking the committee to promptly schedule a hearing and subsequent confirmation vote for Rodriguez. In a joint statement released by Bennet and Gardner, the Senators contended that, “Ms. Rodriguez will bring her impressive background in both the public and private sectors to the federal bench.”
Rodriguez is currently a partner at Denver law firm Hogan Lovells. Before joining the private practice, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division in the District of Colorado, as well as serving in the Assistant Attorney General’s Office for the Department of Justice. She received her J.D from the University of Colorado Law School and was named the alumni of the month in 2013. She was also named the Latina Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association in 2013, and was named the top litigator by Law Week Colorado.
Senator Gardner stated, “Regina Rodriguez has a long record of service to Colorado.”
The U.S District Courts are often referred to as the workhorses of the court system due to their immense caseloads. Bennet and Gardner are pushing the Senate Judiciary Committee to confirm Rodriguez, so that the overworked U.S District Court of Colorado can efficiently do its job. Michael Bennet explained, “Given the court’s caseload, it’s crucial that the Judiciary Committee move quickly and thoroughly to consider this nomination.”
In conclusion of their letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senators Bennet and Gardner wrote, “Ms. Rodriguez has the experience, character, and temperament to serve on the federal bench. It is our hope that the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the nomination of Regina Rodriguez as soon as possible.”