New Washington Federal Judge Wins Confirmation

(CN) - The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Washington Superior Court Judge Salvador Mendoza Jr. as judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

Mendoza, 42, was confirmed by 92-4 vote. Mendoza has been judge for the Washington Superior Court for Benton and Franklin Counties since 2013. Before that he worked as a solo practitioner and for various law partnerships, since 1999, concentrating on criminal defense.

A native of Pacoima, Calif., Mendoza was a deputy prosecuting attorney for Franklin County from 1998 to 1999, and an assistant attorney general for the state from 1997 to 1998.

He got his B.A. from the University of Washington in 1994 and his J.D. from UCLA Law School in 1997.

With his confirmation, the Eastern District has its full complement of four judges. They hear cases in Spokane, Yakima and Richmond.

Sixty-three federal judgeships are still vacant: 53 in U.S. District Courts and 10 on courts of appeal. Twenty-nine nominations are pending.

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