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I found his hearing when he was presented to become a higher Judge than he was, there is no mention of LA RAZA or Aztlan any where, course there wouldn't be, he wouldn't get the job.... [Senate Hearing 112-72, Part 7] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office] S. Hrg. 112-72, pt7 CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS ======================================================================= HEARING before the COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ---------- MARCH 14, MARCH 28, AND MAY 9, 2012 ---------- Serial No. J-112-4 ---------- PART 7 ---------- Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS S. Hrg. 112-72, Pt. 7 CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS ======================================================================= HEARING before the COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION __________ MARCH 14, MARCH 28, AND MAY 9, 2012 __________ Serial No. J-112-4 __________ PART 7 __________ Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 76-131 WASHINGTON : 2012 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, http://bookstore.gpo.gov. For more information, contact the GPO Customer Contact Center, U.S. Government Printing Office. Phone 202�09512�091800, or 866�09512�091800 (toll-free). E-mail, gpo@custhelp.com. COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont, Chairman HERB KOHL, Wisconsin CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah CHUCK SCHUMER, New York JON KYL, Arizona DICK DURBIN, Illinois JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota JOHN CORNYN, Texas AL FRANKEN, Minnesota MICHAEL S. LEE, Utah CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware TOM COBURN, Oklahoma RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut Bruce A. Cohen, Chief Counsel and Staff Director Kolan Davis, Republican Chief Counsel and Staff Director PRESENTATION OF GONZALO P. CURIEL, NOMINEE TO BE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BY HON. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT I want to introduce now Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who also has been nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. I'm going to be introducing you because the two Senators from California could not be here. I know he's joined today by his family, as is Mr. Shea. He was born in East Chicago, Indiana. He's the son of immigrant parents from Mexico, who came to this country with an elementary school education. He attended college in-state at the University of Indiana, graduated in 1976, and received his J.D. degree from the university 3 years later. After graduating from law school, Judge Curiel worked for a decade as an associate in private practice, and he then spent 17 years as a Federal prosecutor in California. During his 27 years in practice he tried over 300 cases, the vast majority of them Federal criminal jury trials where he served as the sole or lead counsel. That's extraordinary experience. One of the most significant cases involved the successful prosecution of the Arellano Felix drug cartel, a multi-billion dollar drug trafficking ring responsible for more than 100 murders in the United States and Mexico. He was also the lead attorney on the Presidential Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in 1999 to 2002. Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Judge Curiel to the Superior Court of San Diego in November, 2006, and he was reelected to that position in 2008. During his tenure he has been exposed to a wide variety of cases, assigned to domestic violence, criminal cases, family court cases, civil cases, presiding over more than 40 that have gone to verdict or judgment. He's also spent time giving back to his community. He serves as vice president of the board of trustees of the Urban Discovery Academy Charter School, and from 2003 to 2006 he participated in the Legal Enrichment and Decision-Making--it's called the LEAD program--organized by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. He comes to us, in short, as a nominee with impressive-- indeed, extraordinary--record of experience, public service, and I look forward to his swift confirmation. As Senator Lieberman did with Mr. Shea, I want to join in thanking President Obama for his nomination and for the nomination of Robert Shelby, who will be introduced to this committee by Senator Lee. STATEMENT OF GONZALO P. CURIEL, NOMINEE TO BE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA Judge Curiel. Thank you. Good afternoon. Senator Blumenthal, thank you for presiding over this hearing. Thank you for the Ranking Member; Senator Lee also for being present. Mostly I'd like to thank also President Obama for giving this honor to me, to my family. As I indicated previously, my parents came here from Mexico with a dream of providing their children opportunities and they've been able to do that with the opportunities that this country has to offer. I'd like to thank Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein for their support, for the Advisory Committee that recommended my name to Senator Boxer to pass forward. I'd like to take the time to introduce my family that was able to come today: my wife Trisha and my daughter Natalie. Also, I'd like to acknowledge family members that weren't able to attend that were not able to travel here. That includes my brother in Indiana, Raul, my sister in Ohio, Maria, my father-in-law, Thomas Yamauchi, and a host of friends who are watching on the webcast. Thank you for this distinction, this honor. With that, I'll conclude. Senator Blumenthal. Mr. Shelby. I want to add my thanks to you for your service to our Nation as a member of the military, as well as in the life of--the civic life of your community and professional life.