President Barack Obama has nominated William Martinez, a DU adjunct professor of law, for a trial judge seat in the U.S. District Court of Colorado.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee must confirm Martinez, a process that could take several months to complete.
Martinez was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the U.S. with his family. He earned his degrees from the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago.
He assisted in drafting the Illinois Human Rights Act, a piece of statewide legislation that was instrumental in preventing discrimination in the workplace. He has taught at DU since 1992.
Martinez’s awards include being named a Colorado super lawyer in employment and labor law three times and a being named a fellow of the Colorado Bar Foundation. He currently is vice chair of the U.S. District Court’s conduct committee.
“I am deeply honored by President Obama’s decision to nominate me to the U.S. District Court here in Colorado,” Martinez says.
Martinez practices with a private law firm — McNamara, Roseman, Martinez & Kazmierski — and specializes in employment law and civil rights.