Ricardo S. Martinez
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.
Ricardo S. Martinez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | |
| Assumed office February 6, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Marsha J. Pechman |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | |
| Assumed office June 16, 2004 | |
| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Seat 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 June 23, 1951[1] Mercedes, Texas |
| Alma mater | University of Washington (BS, JD) |
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, an 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]
References
- Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First [-second Session, Part 6]
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2009-11-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "3 Washington teens sue Backpage.com, accuse site of enabling sexual exploitation". 29 July 2012.
External links
- Ricardo S. Martinez at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Washington State Bar Association Diversity and Leadership Interview http://www.wsba.org/martinez.htm
- Oral history interview, 2005 Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project
| 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 Marsha J. Pechman |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington 2016–present | |