BILL REQ. #:  S-1966.2 

Read first time 02/28/2003.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, On May 9, 2001, President Bush nominated Miguel A. Estrada to fill a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; and
     WHEREAS, Mr. Estrada's credentials go uncontested beginning with his mastery of the English language and American culture upon his arrival to the United States as an immigrant from Honduras and his graduation magna cum laude from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where Mr. Estrada was an editor of the Harvard Law Review; and
     WHEREAS, From 1990 to 1992, Mr. Estrada served as an Assistant United States Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Appellate Section in the Southern District of New York; and
     WHEREAS, In late 1992, Mr. Estrada joined the United States Department of Justice as an Assistant to the Solicitor General; and
     WHEREAS, In those capacities, Mr. Estrada represented the government in numerous jury trials and in many appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and
     WHEREAS, Mr. Estrada was unanimously rated "well qualified" by the American Bar Association; and
     WHEREAS, Over a year-and-a-half has passed without a vote on the Senate floor; and
     WHEREAS, The Senate Judiciary Committee has issued a favorable report to the United States Senate; and
     WHEREAS, Mr. Estrada has received support from liberal and conservative colleagues alike who attest that he is one of the most brilliant and effective appellate lawyers in the country; and
     WHEREAS, Organizations who support Mr. Estrada include the League of United Latin American Citizens, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic National Bar Association, Hispanic Business Roundtable, and The Latino Coalition; and
     WHEREAS, Mr. Estrada would be the first Hispanic in the country to sit on the United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, an important and prestigious position within the nation's Court of Appeals;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Senate confirm Mr. Estrada to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.