09.14.21

Cantwell Applauds Confirmation of Judge David Estudillo to the US District Court for the Western District of Washington

Cantwell spoke on Senate floor immediately prior to Judge Estudillo’s confirmation vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) spoke on the Senate floor in support of Judge David Estudillo’s confirmation for the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. Estudillo was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 54-41.

“Judge Estudillo is a great example of the successes and contributions that many immigrant families make to our great nation,” said Senator Cantwell. “I know his strong character and respect for the rule of law, sense of justice, fairness, humility, empathy, capacity for compassion, and understanding would be a benefit to the court and all the parties that come before him.”

At the beginning of 2021, Cantwell recommended that the Biden administration nominate Judge Estudillo to the federal court. In April, following President Biden’s nomination, Cantwell said that Judge Estudillo is a “highly-qualified [nominee] that reflect[s] the diversity we need on our federal bench.”

Judge Estudillo was born and raised in Sunnyside, Washington. His parents were Mexican immigrants who came to the Yakima Valley through the Bracero Program in the 1960s. Estudillo attended Columbia Basin Community College before transferring to the University of Washington where he received both his Bachelor’s and Law degrees.

Governor Jay Inslee appointed Estudillo to the Grant County Superior Court in 2015 and he was reelected to the position in 2016 and 2020. Both Democratic and Republican officials in Grant County supported him, along with all nine justices of the Washington State Supreme Court. He currently serves as the Presiding Judge of the Grant County Superior Court and is the President of the Washington State Superior Court Judges’ Association.

###