Mary H. Murguia
Encyclopedia
Mary Helen Murguia is a judge
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
.
from Mexico
in 1950. She was born in 1960 in Kansas City, Kansas
. Murguia was raised in the Kansas City community of Argentine
.
Murguia earned two bachelor's degrees (a B.A.
and a B.S.
) from the University of Kansas
in 1982. She then earned a law degree from the University of Kansas Law School in 1985.
from 1985 until 1990. From 1990 until 2000, Murguia served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, and concurrently served in the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys from 1998 until 2000. She was Counsel to the director's staff from 1998 until 1999, and the Principal Deputy Director in 1999. She was a Director from 1999 until 2000.
that was created by 113 Stat. 1501. The United States Senate
confirmed Murguia on October 3, 2000, and she received her commission on October 13, 2000.
On March 25, 2010, President Obama nominated Murguia to a fill a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
that was created by the decision by Judge Michael Daly Hawkins
to assume senior status
. On December 22, 2010, she was confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote of 89-0. On January 4, 2011, she received her commission and took the oath of office.
, while her older brother, Carlos Murguia
is a United States district judge.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of 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...
.
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. She was born in 1960 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 earned two bachelor's degrees (a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and 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 1982. She then earned a law degree from the University of Kansas Law School in 1985.
Professional career
Murguia served as an Assistant District Attorney of Wyandotte County, KansasWyandotte 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 1985 until 1990. From 1990 until 2000, Murguia served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, and concurrently served in the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys from 1998 until 2000. She was Counsel to the director's staff from 1998 until 1999, and the Principal Deputy Director in 1999. She was a Director from 1999 until 2000.
Federal judicial service
On July 21, 2000, President Clinton nominated Murguia to a new seat on 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...
that was created by 113 Stat. 1501. 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...
confirmed Murguia on October 3, 2000, and she received her commission on October 13, 2000.
On March 25, 2010, President Obama nominated Murguia to a fill a vacancy on 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...
that was created by the decision by Judge Michael Daly Hawkins
Michael Daly Hawkins
Michael Daly Hawkins serves as a senior judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and is resident in Phoenix, Arizona at the Sandra Day O'Connor United States Courthouse.- Early life and education :...
to assume senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. On December 22, 2010, she was confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote of 89-0. On January 4, 2011, she received her commission and took the oath of office.
Personal
Murguia's twin sister is noted civil rights leader Janet MurguíaJanet 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...
, while her older brother, Carlos Murguia
Carlos Murguia
Carlos Murguia is a United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.-Early life and education:...
is a United States district judge.