Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleGloria Navarro confirmation hearings under way
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 | 10:52 a.m.
Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Gloria Navarro, who was nominated by President Obama to serve as U.S. district judge for Nevada, was introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington this morning by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The Nevada Democrat heaped praise on the 42-year-old Navarro, who will fill the position vacated by Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval if confirmed by the Senate. She would be the first Hispanic woman to serve as a federal judge in Nevada.
"I am impressed by this Nevadan's professional record and her commitment to public service in all areas of her life," Reid told the committee. "My meetings with her have certainly confirmed her dedication. She is a very personable individual and a professional who is devoted to justice and the rule of law."
Reid said that Navarro is an example of the "quintessential American story" as the daughter of an immigrant family from Cuba who speaks Spanish fluently.
"She learned English and her ABCs watching Sesame Street and worked hard to take advantage of every opportunity that came her way," Reid said. "Today she is an outstanding attorney who chose to serve a community and a state she loves and knows intimately."
Reid's glowing testimony came despite the fact that Navarro is one of the lowest rated of the federal judicial nominations made by Obama since March. A substantial majority of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, meaning 10 to 13 of its 15 m,embers, rated her as qualified whereas a minority determined her to be not qualified. Only one other nominee among the 45 made by Obama since he took office was determined to be not qualified by at least some members of the committee.
Reid highlighted Navarro's nearly 20 years of experience in the private and public sectors, as well as her handling of complex litigation.
In Navarro's current position with the county, she provides legal counsel and litigation defense to the Clark County Commission.
She previously worked as a public defender, earning the Nevada State Bar Access to Justice Pro Bono Public Lawyer of the Year award in 2002. Navarro also served in private practice, earning the Louis Wiener Pro Bono Service Award in 2001 for her representation of a victim of spousal abuse.
"She is truly committed to the Nevada community," Reid said. "Among other things, as President of the Latino Bar Association, she created a mentoring program pairing high school, college, and law students with community lawyers."
"I am proud to have recommended this exceptional Nevadan to President Obama and I am confident that she will be confirmed expeditiously by the Senate."
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- Superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48
- UNLV can move forward without the burden of losing streak to San Diego State
- A wife’s wisdom shows birth control issue needn’t be divisive
- UNLV makes key plays down stretch to hold off San Diego State 65-63
- Surprise links, negotiated deals addressed by commissioners
- Hope and change and … what’s missing?
- Motorcycle accident claims life of man in northeast valley
- New York mayor has the right idea
- We don’t need a CEO in charge
- Paying our own way
Blogs
The Kats Report
Color from scene at Thomas & Mack: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
South Point owner Michael Gaughan's take on 'Vegas Stripped': 'I'll give it an 8' (4 Comments)
Author relishes writing the life story of ‘larger-than-life’ Oscar Goodman (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Landowner: All roads could lead to Uxbridge casino
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
She is a great addition. Common sense and experience on both sides. Everything a judge should have.
"a minority determined her to be not qualified...Only one other nominee among the 45...was determined to be not qualified".
Under Gloria Navarro's watch, Clark County's children fatalities soared 300% in 2009 (State of Nevada DHHS statistics). A significant number of these child fatalities occurred while the child was under Gloria Navarro's Child Protective Services agency oversight.
Perhaps Harry Reid believes giving her a judgeship will give her immunity from criminal neglect. This would be a logical step given Gloria Navarro's boss is Harry Reid's son, Rory Reid.
"In Navarro's current position with the county, she provides legal counsel and litigation defense to the Clark County Commission".
Currently, Clark County is paying more in litigation costs than ever in the history of Clark County. Federal courts are ordering Clark County pay damages. That is, our taxpayer dollars are being used to litigate cases Gloria Navarro looses.
"She previously worked as a public defender".
The Nevada Supreme Court, in Administrative Order 411, stated in 80+ pages problems in Clark County's Public Defender's office. While Ms. Navarro was a Public Defender, $5 million was court ordered paid to Roberto Miranda for Clark County Public Defender's office's handling of his defense. This does not include all other lawsuits initiated against the public defender's office that were settled out of court by Clark County.
YourrightLasVegas, I have the impression you wanted a federal judgeship and are upset that Ms. Navarro has been offered it instead. Blaming her for each of the problems you cite is like blaming the Johnstown Flood on a leaky toilet in Altoona, to crib a phrase. She is well qualified to be a federal judge, and Senator Reid has made a fine choice.
I hope she is confirmed quickly. Excellent choice!