Kenneth J. Gonzales

Kenneth John Gonzales (born October 26, 1964) is an American attorney who serves as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico and is a former United States attorney from the same district.

Kenneth J. Gonzales
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Assumed office
August 9, 2013
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byBruce D. Black
United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico
In office
April 30, 2010 – August 9, 2013
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byGregory J. Fouratt
Succeeded byDamon Martinez
Personal details
Born
Kenneth John Gonzales

(1964-10-26) October 26, 1964
Española, New Mexico, U.S.
EducationUniversity of New Mexico (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service2001–present
Rank Major
UnitJudge Advocate General's Corps

Early life and education

Gonzales was born and raised in Española, New Mexico. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from the University of New Mexico and a Juris Doctor in 1994 from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He then attended The JAG School at the University of Virginia and entered the U.S. Army JAG Corps.

Career

Gonzales worked as a law clerk for Chief Justice Joseph Baca of the New Mexico Supreme Court from 1994 to 1996. He served as a legislative assistant for United States Senator Jeff Bingaman from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2010, he served as an assistant United States attorney for the District of New Mexico. In 2001 he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army Reserve and holds the rank of major in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Law at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. From 2010 to 2013, he served as United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico.[1][2]

Federal judicial service

On November 14, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Gonzales to serve as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, to the seat vacated by Judge Bruce D. Black who assumed senior status on October 1, 2012.[1] On January 2, 2013, his nomination was returned to the President, due to the adjournment sine die of the Senate. On January 3, 2013, he was renominated to the same office. His nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 11, 2013, by a voice vote.[3] On June 17, 2013, the Senate confirmed his nomination by a 89–0 vote.[4] He received his commission on August 9, 2013 and took the judicial oath the same day. He commenced judicial duties on August 12, 2013. He maintains chambers in Las Cruces, New Mexico.[5][2]

See also

References
  1. "President Obama Nominates Seven to the United States District Courts". whitehouse.gov. 14 November 2012 – via National Archives.
  2. Kenneth J. Gonzales at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. "President Obama Re-nominates Thirty-Three to Federal Judgeships". whitehouse.gov. 3 January 2013 – via National Archives.
  4. "On the Nomination (Confirmation Kenneth John Gonzales, of New Mexico, to be U.S. District Judge)". www.senate.gov.
  5. Writer, Scott Sandlin. "Updated: U.S. attorney moves to federal judgeship in Las Cruces". www.abqjournal.com.
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