Senate Confirms 3 to Arizona Federal Bench

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Senate on Thursday confirmed three judges to the Arizona federal bench, filling that court's bench for the first time in more than three years.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Douglas Rayes was confirmed by vote of 77-19. He will take the seat vacated on Jan. 30, 2013, with District Judge Frederick Martone took senior status.

Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge James Alan Soto was confirmed by vote of 95-1. He will take the seat vacated on Dec. 31, 2012, when District Judge David Bury assumed senior status.

Tucson attorney Rosemary Márquez was confirmed by vote of 81-15. She will fill the judgeship vacated on Aug. 3, 2010, when District Judge Frank Zapata took senior status.

The Senate earlier this week confirmed three other judges to Arizona's federal bench. With the latest confirmations, all 13 judgeships authorized to the court are filled.

The Arizona Federal Court had 9,777 new filings in fiscal year 2013, or 1,397 for each judge then sitting on the bench.

Seventy-four federal judgeships are still vacant, according to the Federal Courts' website: 62 on U.S. district courts and 12 on courts of appeal. Thirty-eight nominees are pending.

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