Ricardo S. Martinez

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Ricardo S. Martinez
Ricardo S. Martinez District Judge.jpg
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Assumed office
February 6, 2016
Preceded byMarsha J. Pechman
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Assumed office
June 16, 2004
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded bySeat established by 104 Stat. 5089
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
In office
1998–2004
Judge of the King County Superior Court
In office
1990–1998
Personal details
Born
Ricardo Salazar Martinez

(1951-06-23) June 23, 1951 (age 70)[1]
Mercedes, Texas
Alma materUniversity of Washington (BS, JD)

Ricardo Salazar Martinez (born June 23, 1951) is an American attorney and jurist serving as the Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Early life and education[]

Martinez was born in Mercedes, Texas, and raised in Whatcom County, Washington, where he graduated from Lynden High School.[2] He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Washington in 1975 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law in 1980. He was an Assistant Prosecutor with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in King County, Washington, from 1980 to 1990.

Career[]

Martinez was a judge on the King County Superior Court from 1990 to 1998. From 1998 to 2004, he served as a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

On October 14, 2003, Martinez was nominated by President George W. Bush to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington established by 104 Stat. 5089. Martinez was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 15, 2004, receiving his commission on June 16, 2004. He is the first Latino judge in the Western District of Washington. He became Chief Judge on February 6, 2016.

Notable cases[]

Backpage, a classified advertising website specializing in online escort services, filed a lawsuit against the state of Washington to prevent a law that would require companies to verify the ages of people in sex-related advertisements. The online escort service claimed, "Backpage and Internet Archive argue the new law violates the Communications Decency Act of 1996, as well as the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments and the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution."[3] On 28 July 2012, Judge Martinez granted an injunction preventing the law from taking effect. In his ruling, Martinez found merit in some of Backpage.com's arguments that the state law would conflict with existing federal law.[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First [-second Session, Part 6]
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2009-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-07-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "3 Washington teens sue Backpage.com, accuse site of enabling sexual exploitation". 29 July 2012.

External links[]

Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 104 Stat. 5089
 Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
2004–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
2016–present
Retrieved from ""