Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Ruth Bermudez Montenegro
2022 - Present
3
Ruth Bermudez Montenegro is a judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. She was nominated by President Joe Biden (D) on November 3, 2021, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 22, 2022, by a vote of 55-41.[1][2][3] Montenegro was one of 235 Article III judges nominated by President Joe Biden (D) and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Prior to her confirmation, Montenegro was a federal magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. She was appointed to this position on August 15, 2018.[1]
Judicial nominations, appointments, and elections
United States District Court for the Southern District of California (2022-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On November 3, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Montenegro to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.[1][2] She was confirmed by a 55-41 vote of the U.S. Senate on March 22, 2022.[3] Montenegro received commission on March 30, 2022.[4] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Ruth Bermudez Montenegro |
| Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of California |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 139 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: November 3, 2021
|
| ABA Rating: Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: December 15, 2021
|
| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: January 20, 2022
|
| Confirmed: March 22, 2022
|
| Vote: 55-41
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Montenegro by a vote of 55-41 on March 22, 2022.[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Montenegro confirmation vote (March 22, 2022) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
45 | 0 | 3 | ||||||
 Republican |
8 | 41 | 1 | ||||||
 Independent |
2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 55 | 41 | 4 | ||||||
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Montenegro's nomination on December 15, 2021. The committee voted to advance Montenegro's nomination to the full Senate on January 20, 2022.
Nomination
On November 3, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Montenegro to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.[1][2]
Montenegro's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2022.[5] The president renominated Montenegro on the same day.[3]
Montenegro was nominated to replace Judge John A. Houston, who assumed senior status on February 6, 2018.[2]
The American Bar Association rated Montenegro Qualified.[6] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Superior Court of Imperial County, California (2012-2013; 2015-2019)
Montenegro was a judge of the Superior Court of Imperial County in California. She took office on January 5, 2015.[7]
Montenegro previously served on the Superior Court of Imperial County after being appointed by Governor Jerry Brown (D) on February 29, 2012. She lost election to a full term in 2012 and left the court in January 2013. She ran for election again in 2014 and won in the primary on June 3, 2014.[8]
2014
- See also: California judicial elections, 2014
Montenegro ran for election to the Superior Court of Imperial County. She was elected in the primary on June 3, 2014, receiving 58.3 percent of the vote. She competed against James "Jim" Smith.[9][7]
2012
- See also: California judicial elections, 2012
Montenegro was defeated by Brooks Anderholt in the primary election on June 5, receiving 47.95% of the vote.[10][11]
Endorsements
- The Labor Council.[12]
Biography
Education
Montenegro received her undergraduate degree from Clarion University. She earned her J.D. from the University of California Los Angeles.
Career
- 2019-present: United States District Court for the Southern District of California
- 2022-present: Article III judge
- 2019-2022: Federal magistrate judge
- 2015-2019: Judge, Superior Court of Imperial County
- 2013-2014: Family support commissioner, Superior Court of Imperial County[13]
- 2012-2013: Judge, Superior Court of Imperial County
- 2011-2012: Assistant county counsel, Imperial County
- 2002-2011: Assistant superintendent of El Centro Elementary School district
- 2000-2002: Director of human resources, Imperial Community College district
- 1993-2000: Attorney, Horton, Knox, Carter and Foote LLP[8]
About the court
| Southern District of California |
|---|
| Ninth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 13 |
| Judges: 12 |
| Vacancies: 1 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Dana Sabraw |
| Active judges: Cynthia A. Bashant, Cathy Bencivengo, Benjamin Cheeks, Robert Huie, Linda Lopez, Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, Jinsook Ohta, Todd Robinson, Dana Sabraw, Janis Sammartino, Andrew G. Schopler, James Simmons Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of three courthouses in San Diego and one in El Centro. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit based in downtown San Francisco at the James R. Browning Federal Courthouse.
The Southern District of California has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The geographic jurisdiction of the Southern District of California consists of the Imperial and San Diego counties in the southern part of the state of California.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the Southern District of California
- United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- Imperial County, California
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The White House, "President Biden Names Ninth Round of Judicial Nominees," November 3, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN1355 — Ruth Bermudez Montenegro — The Judiciary," accessed November 4, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Congress.gov, "PN1503 — Ruth Bermudez Montenegro — The Judiciary," accessed January 5, 2022
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Montenegro, Ruth Bermudez," accessed April 1, 2022
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117TH CONGRESS," Last Updated: December 14, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Imperial County, "Primary Election Results," June 3, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Office of the Governor, "Governor Appoints Ruth Bermudez Montenegro to Imperial County Superior Court," February 29, 2012
- ↑ Imperial County California, "Candidates list for 2014 primary election," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Imperial County Registrar of Voters, "2012 Primary Election Results"
- ↑ Imperial County Registrar of Voters, "Imperial County Candidates"
- ↑ UnionYes.org, "Endorsements for Upcoming Elections"
- ↑ Imperial Valley Press, "Statement: Ruth B. Montenegro, Superior Court Commissioner, Superior Court Judge Seat 3," May 29, 2014
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
