Kenneth John Gonzales

Kenneth John Gonzales (born October 26, 1964) is an American attorney and jurist, currently serving as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico and is a former United States Attorney from the same district, who served in Albuquerque.

Kenneth John Gonzales
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office August 9, 2013
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Bruce D. Black
United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico
In office April 30, 2010 – August 9, 2013
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Gregory J. Fouratt
Succeeded by	Damon P. Martinez
Personal details
Born	Kenneth John Gonzales October 26, 1964 Española, New Mexico, U.S.
Education	University of New Mexico (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	2001 – current
Rank	Major
Unit	Judge Advocate General's Corps

Early life and education

Gonzales was born and raised in Española, New Mexico. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from the University of New Mexico and a Juris Doctor in 1994 from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He then attended The JAG School at the University of Virginia and entered the U.S. Army JAG Corps.

Career

Gonzales worked as a law clerk for Chief Justice Joseph Baca of the New Mexico Supreme Court from 1994 to 1996. He served as a legislative assistant for United States Senator Jeff Bingaman from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2010, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. In 2001 he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army Reserve and holds the rank of major in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Law at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. From 2010 to 2013, he served as United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico.[1][2]

Federal judicial service

On November 14, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Gonzales to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, to the seat vacated by Judge Bruce D. Black who assumed senior status on October 1, 2012.[1] On January 2, 2013, his nomination was returned to the President, due to the adjournment sine die of the Senate. On January 3, 2013, he was renominated to the same office. His nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 11, 2013, by voice vote.[3] On June 17, 2013, the Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 89–0. He received his commission on August 9, 2013 and took the judicial oath the same day. He commenced judicial duties on August 12, 2013. He maintains chambers in Las Cruces, New Mexico.[4][2]

References

1. "President Obama Nominates Seven to the United States District Courts". 14 November 2012.
2. "Gonzales, Kenneth John – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
3. "President Obama Re-nominates Thirty-Three to Federal Judgeships". 3 January 2013.
4. Writer, Scott Sandlin. "Updated: U.S. attorney moves to federal judgeship in Las Cruces". www.abqjournal.com.

External links

• Kenneth John Gonzales at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Kenneth John Gonzales at Ballotpedia