Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner today urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to work swiftly to consider the nomination of Regina Rodriguez to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The Colorado senators wrote to Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy urging them to schedule a hearing and a vote on confirmation as soon as possible.

The President nominated Rodriguez in April to replace Judge Robert Blackburn, who took senior status earlier in April.

"Given the court's caseload, it's crucial that the Judiciary Committee move quickly and thoroughly to consider this nomination," Bennet said. "Regina Rodriguez is eminently qualified to serve on the District Court. We're confident that her impressive background in both the public and private sectors will serve her well on the federal bench."

"Regina Rodriguez has a long record of service to Colorado," said Gardner. "She is immensely qualified to serve on the federal bench, and I'm certain that her broad experience will allow her to better serve Coloradans in a new capacity as a judge on the U.S. District Court for Colorado."

Regina Rodriguez is a partner at Hogan Lovells in Denver, where she handles cases involving complex litigation and government investigations. Prior to joining private practice, Ms. Rodriguez served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division in the District of Colorado. In 2013, the Hispanic National Bar Association named her the Latina Lawyer of the Year. In 2015, Law Week Colorado named her as a top litigator. Ms. Rodriguez received her B.S., with honors, from the University of Iowa. She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School.

Full text of the letter:

July 12, 2016

Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Leahy:

We write to request that the Senate Judiciary Committee move swiftly to schedule a hearing and a vote on the nomination of Regina M. Rodriguez to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

Ms. Rodriguez will bring her impressive background in both the public and private sectors to the federal bench. She is currently a partner at Hogan Lovells in Denver, where she handles cases involving complex litigation and government investigations. Prior to joining private practice, Ms. Rodriguez served as Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division in the District of Colorado. In 2013, the Hispanic National Bar Association named her the Latina Lawyer of the Year. In 2015, Law Week Colorado named her as a top litigator. Ms. Rodriguez received her B.S., with honors, from the University of Iowa. She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School.

Ms. Rodriguez has the experience, character, and temperament to serve on the federal bench. It is our hope that the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the nomination of Regina Rodriguez as soon as possible.

Thank you for your consideration.