Mary H. Murguia
Mary Helen Murguia (born September 6, 1960) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as the Chief United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She previously served as a U.S. district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona from 2000 to 2011.
Mary Murguia
Seat established
September 6, 1960
Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Janet Murguía (sister)
Carlos Murguia (brother)
University of Kansas (BA, BS, JD)
Early life and education[edit]
Murguia is one of seven children of Alfred and Amalia Murguia, who emigrated from Mexico in 1950.[1] She was born in 1960 in Kansas City, Kansas.[2] Murguia was raised in the Kansas City community of Argentine.[1]
Murguia earned two bachelor's degrees (a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science) from the University of Kansas in 1982. She then earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas Law School in 1985.[2]
Professional career[edit]
Murguia served as an assistant district attorney of Wyandotte County, Kansas, from 1985 until 1990.[2] From 1990 until 2000, Murguia served as an assistant United States attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, and concurrently served in the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys from 1998 until 2000.[2] She was counsel to the director's staff from 1998 until 1999, and the principal deputy director in 1999. She was a director from 1999 until 2000.[2]
Federal judicial service[edit]
District court service[edit]
On July 21, 2000, President Bill Clinton nominated Murguia to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona that was created by 113 Stat. 1501.[2] The United States Senate confirmed Murguia on October 3, 2000, and she received her commission on October 13, 2000. Her service as a district court judge was terminated on January 4, 2011 when she was elevated to the court of appeals.[2]
Court of appeals service[edit]
On March 25, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Murguia to a fill a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that was created when Judge Michael Daly Hawkins assumed senior status.[3] On December 22, 2010, she was confirmed by the United States Senate by a 89–0 vote.[4] On January 4, 2011, she received her commission and took the oath of office.[2][5] She became Chief Judge on December 1, 2021.[6]
She had been suggested as a potential nominee to the Supreme Court in Obama's second term.[7]
Personal life[edit]
Murguia's twin sister is noted civil rights leader Janet Murguía, while her older brother, Carlos Murguia, was a United States district judge.[16]