Udall, Heinrich Introduce Kenneth J. Gonzales At Senate Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New Mexico U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich today introduced U.S. District Court nominee Kenneth J. Gonzales at his confirmation hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Gonzales, the current U.S. attorney for New Mexico, was nominated by President Obama to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

"Ken Gonzales is an exceptionally well-qualified nominee," said Udall. "He has shown a reverence for—and dedication to—the law throughout his career. In both civilian and military positions, he has exhibited great expertise, commitment and depth of judgment and I urge his confirmation."

“Mr. Gonzales has a long and distinguished record of public service, including service to our military,” said Heinrich. “In addition to his qualifications as a licensed attorney for more than 20 years, Ken is a long-time New Mexican. He was born and raised there. All of his accomplishments make me believe he is more than qualified to serve on the federal bench in New Mexico. But it is his career-long determination and dedication to serving the people of New Mexico that makes me believe he will make an outstanding addition to the federal bench. I strongly support his nomination and I urge this panel to act quickly to move his nomination to the full Senate for a vote.”

VIDEO from the hearing

PHOTOS from the hearing

Gonzales is a graduate of Pojoaque High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of New Mexico. He began his career as federal prosecutor in the Las Cruces branch of the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico and later transferred to the Albuquerque branch. Prior to that, he served as a judicial law clerk to former chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, Joseph Baca, and later as a legislative assistant to former Senator Jeff Bingaman on criminal justice, Indian affairs and other issues. He has also been a judge advocate in the U.S. Army.