Martinez named state’s first Hispanic federal judge

WASHINGTON — As a child, Ricardo S. Martinez helped his migrant-worker parents pick strawberries in rural Whatcom County, Wash.

On Tuesday, Martinez completed a remarkable rise to the top of the legal profession as he became Washington state’s first Hispanic federal judge. The Senate unanimously confirmed his nomination as a district judge for Western Washington.

The vote reflected bipartisan support for Martinez, who now serves as a federal magistrate judge in Seattle and was nominated for a judgeship by President Bush.

Martinez, 52, served as a prosecutor and judge in King County before becoming a federal magistrate in 1998. He said he was thrilled at his confirmation and eager to start his new role.

“This is truly a tremendous honor for me today,” he said in a telephone interview from his Sammamish home. “It’s an incredible privilege for me to be able to serve my country as a U.S. district judge.”

The Senate vote was especially welcome Tuesday, Martinez said, because his extended family had gathered to mark daughter Jessica’s graduation from Eastlake High School.

Martinez recalled the words of his father, Eliseo Martinez, as he reflected on his ascension to the district court bench.

“My dad put it best: ‘It’s incredible this country allows that kind of opportunity for a child from this kind of background to be able to rise to this position,’ ” Martinez said.

Martinez was born in Texas and moved to Washington state at age 5, as his parents sought farm work. His parents worried that constant moving would harm the education of Ricardo and his younger sister and decided to settle in Whatcom County, Martinez recalled.

The future judge graduated from Lynden High School in 1969 and went on the University of Washington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1975 and a law degree five years later.

Martinez has been a judge for nearly 15 years and said his judicial philosophy will not change.

“Basically I want everyone to feel respected in my courtroom,” he said. “I want everyone to feel they are getting a fair shot.”

Democratic Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell hailed the Senate vote. Both had supported Martinez throughout the nominating process.

“Judge Martinez clearly meets the standards of fairness and adherence to the law that we look for in our federal judges,” Murray said.

Besides his professional credentials, Murray said she was impressed by Martinez personally, calling him fair-minded, thoughtful and compassionate.

Cantwell called Martinez a “talented and fair jurist” and said his recommendation by a bipartisan selection committee should be a model for other states.

“Together, we all agreed that Judge Martinez is the right person for the job,” she said.