Obama nominates Clark County prosecutor for federal bench

By Steve Kanigher

Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 | 9:43 a.m.

President Barack Obama today nominated Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Gloria Navarro to serve as U.S. district judge for Nevada.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Navarro would fill the position that was vacated in September by Brian Sandoval, a Republican candidate for governor.

Obama, who also nominated U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Black to serve as a federal judge for the Southern District of Ohio, said of his two nominees: "Timothy Black and Gloria Navarro emody the evenhandedness, intellect, and spirit of service that Americans expect and deserve from their federal judges. I thank them for their continued willingness to serve and know that they will dispense justice with unwavering integrity and impartiality."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he was pleased that Obama nominated the 42-year-old Navarro.

"This first generation American is the embodiment of the American Dream. Throughout her career, Gloria has impressed me with her intellect and life experience."

Navarro, who earned a bachelor's degree in 1989 from UNLV and her law degree in 1992 from Arizona State University, has served in the district attorney's office since 2005, representing the county in civil litigation.

Reid said that Navarro has served with distinction not only in the district attorney's office, but also in the Federal Public Defender's office. Navarro also had her own private practice, where she was awarded the Louis Wiener Pro Bono service award for her representation of a victim of spousal abuse.

She was also named "Public Lawyer of the Year" in 2002 by the Nevada State Bar Association.

"Throughout her career, Gloria has worked to put people first and I'm convinced that she will bring a valuable perspective to the bench," Reid said.