Carlos Murguia
Encyclopedia
Carlos Murguia is a United States federal judge
on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
.
from Mexico
in 1950. He was born in 1957 in Kansas City, Kansas
. Murguia was raised in the Kansas City community of Argentine
.
Murguia received a B.S.
from the University of Kansas
in 1979, where he majored in journalism
. He then earned a J.D.
from the University of Kansas School of Law
in 1982.
judge of the District Court
of Wyandotte County, Kansas
from 1984 to 1990. He was a coordinator of the Immigration Amnesty Program at El Centro, Inc. from 1985 to 1990. He was a full-time hearing officer of the Wyandotte County District Court in 1990, and a district court judge of Division 8 on the Court from 1990 to 1999.
Bill Clinton
on March 24, 1999, to the seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
vacated by Sam A. Crow
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 8, 1999, and received his commission on September 22, 1999. Murguia is the first Latino
to serve as a federal judge in Kansas.
, they became the first brother and sister to serve on the United States federal bench. Mary Murguia has since been elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
. Another sister, Janet Murguia
, is a noted civil rights leader who currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of La Raza
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Kansas. The Court operates out of the Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse in Kansas City, the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka, and the United States Courthouse...
.
Early life and education
Murguia is one of seven children of Alfred and Amalia Murguia, who emigratedEmigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1950. He was born in 1957 in Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
. Murguia was raised in the Kansas City community of Argentine
Argentine, Kansas
Argentine is a community of Kansas City, Kansas, located in the southern part of Wyandotte County. It is bordered on the west by the Turner community, on the east by the Rosedale community, on the south by Johnson County, and on the north by Armourdale community and by the Kansas River. Argentine...
.
Murguia received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
in 1979, where he majored in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. He then earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Kansas School of Law
University of Kansas School of Law
The University of Kansas School of Law is a public law school located on the main campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The University of Kansas Law School was founded in 1893, replacing the earlier Department of Law, which had existed since 1878. The school has more than 50...
in 1982.
Career
Murguia was in private practice in Kansas City from 1982 to 1987. He was a part-time hearing officer and small claimsSmall claims court
Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...
judge of the District Court
Kansas District Courts
The Kansas District Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Kansas. The Courts have original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, and jury trials are held in the Courts...
of Wyandotte County, Kansas
Wyandotte County, Kansas
Wyandotte County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population was 157,505 for the 2010 census. Its county seat and most populous city is Kansas City with which it shares a unified government...
from 1984 to 1990. He was a coordinator of the Immigration Amnesty Program at El Centro, Inc. from 1985 to 1990. He was a full-time hearing officer of the Wyandotte County District Court in 1990, and a district court judge of Division 8 on the Court from 1990 to 1999.
Federal judicial service
Murguia was nominated by PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on March 24, 1999, to the seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Kansas. The Court operates out of the Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse in Kansas City, the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka, and the United States Courthouse...
vacated by Sam A. Crow
Sam A. Crow
Sam A. Crow is a United States federal judge.Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1926, Crow was a seaman in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1944 to 1945. He received a B.A. from the University of Kansas in 1949 and a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law in 1952. He was in private...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 8, 1999, and received his commission on September 22, 1999. Murguia is the first Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
to serve as a federal judge in Kansas.
Personal
When Murguia's younger sister, Mary Murguia, joined the United States District Court for the District of ArizonaUnited States District Court for the District of Arizona
The United States District Court for the District of Arizona is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Arizona. Court is held in the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, and Prescott. The district was created on June 20, 1910, by 36 Stat. 557...
, they became the first brother and sister to serve on the United States federal bench. Mary Murguia has since been elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
. Another sister, Janet Murguia
Janet Murguía
Janet Murguia is a prominent civil rights leader in the United States. She grew up in Kansas City, Kansas but now lives in Washington, D.C. and works as a renowned advocate for the Latino community...
, is a noted civil rights leader who currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of La Raza
National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza is a non-profit and non-partisan advocacy group in the United States, focused on improving opportunities for Hispanics. It is sometimes confused with La Raza Unida...
.