Marco A. Hernandez
Encyclopedia
Marco Antonio Hernandez is an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon
. A native of Arizona
, he served as a Circuit Court judge
in Washington County
from 1995 until 2011, including as presiding judge for three years. He was nominated for a federal judgeship with the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
three times under two U.S. Presidents, and confirmed as judge in February 2011.
, in 1957 and is of Hispanic descent. He moved to Oregon at 17 and began work as a dishwasher, and then as a janitor before working his way through community college while working as a teacher's aide. Hernandez then moved on to a four-year school and received a B.A.
degree from Western Oregon State College (now known as Western Oregon University
) in 1983. He then attended the University of Washington School of Law
and earned his J.D.
in 1986.
, Hernandez the joined the Washington County District Attorney's office as a deputy prosecutor in 1989.
Shortly before leaving office in January 1995, Governor Barbara Roberts
appointed Hernandez to be a Circuit Court judge in Washington County, Oregon. In 2001, he allowed a claim for loss of companionship in a pet case to go to trial, the first time such as claim was allowed to go to trial in the United States. Hernandez served as presiding judge of the County's Circuit Court from 2002 to 2005. He won re-election to a new six-year term on the court in May 2008. He has also served as the judge for the county's Mental Health Court, and as presiding judge from 2002 until 2005.
on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
. President George W. Bush
selected Hernandez to fill the vacancy on the District Court of Oregon and submitted his nomination on July 23, 2008. Senators Gordon H. Smith and Ron Wyden
supported the nomination, but it was made with less than six months remaining in the Bush Presidency. The nomination was not acted upon by the 110th Congress and was thus returned.
Republican
Gordon Smith was defeated for re-election in 2008
, and newly-elected President Barack Obama
restarted the judicial selection process for the District of Oregon. Democrat
Ron Wyden recommended Hernandez in addition to five other candidates selected by a thirteen-member judicial selection committee. On July 14, 2010, Obama renominated Hernandez to replace Garr King. He is one of few people to be nominated to the federal bench by presidents from two different political parties. The Senate failed to act on Obama's nomination, and President Obama nominated Hernandez again in January 2011. On February 7, 2011, the Senate unanimously confirmed Hernandez as the newest judge for the District of Oregon, and he received his commission on February 9.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, he served as a Circuit Court judge
Oregon circuit courts
Oregon's circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts of the U.S. state of Oregon. These courts hear civil and criminal court cases.The state has 27 circuit court districts, most of which correspond to the boundaries of the Oregon's 36 counties...
in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
from 1995 until 2011, including as presiding judge for three years. He was nominated for a federal judgeship with the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
three times under two U.S. Presidents, and confirmed as judge in February 2011.
Early life and education
Hernandez was born in Nogales, ArizonaNogales, Arizona
Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 21,017 at the 2010 census. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,833. The city is the county seat of Santa Cruz County....
, in 1957 and is of Hispanic descent. He moved to Oregon at 17 and began work as a dishwasher, and then as a janitor before working his way through community college while working as a teacher's aide. Hernandez then moved on to a four-year school and received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Western Oregon State College (now known as Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
) in 1983. He then attended the University of Washington School of Law
University of Washington School of Law
The University of Washington School of Law is the law school of the University of Washington, located on the northwest corner of the main campus in Seattle, Washington.The most recent 2012 U.S...
and earned his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1986.
Legal career
After law school he returned to Oregon where he spent three years working for Legal Aid Services of Oregon where he often represented farm workers. Hernandez himself had picked crops in the field in his youth. Following his time with legal aidLegal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
, Hernandez the joined the Washington County District Attorney's office as a deputy prosecutor in 1989.
Shortly before leaving office in January 1995, Governor Barbara Roberts
Barbara Roberts
Barbara Kay Roberts is an American politician from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, she served as the 34th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995. She is the first and, to date, only woman to be elected to that office. A Democrat, Roberts was also the first woman to serve as majority...
appointed Hernandez to be a Circuit Court judge in Washington County, Oregon. In 2001, he allowed a claim for loss of companionship in a pet case to go to trial, the first time such as claim was allowed to go to trial in the United States. Hernandez served as presiding judge of the County's Circuit Court from 2002 to 2005. He won re-election to a new six-year term on the court in May 2008. He has also served as the judge for the county's Mental Health Court, and as presiding judge from 2002 until 2005.
Federal judicial nominations
In January 2008, Hernandez was one of three candidates recommended by a six-member judicial selection committee to replace Garr KingGarr King
Garr Michael King is a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. He was appointed to the federal bench by President Clinton in 1997 to fill a vacancy left by Helen J. Frye's attaining senior judge status. A graduate of University of Utah, he received his LL.B. from Lewis &...
on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
selected Hernandez to fill the vacancy on the District Court of Oregon and submitted his nomination on July 23, 2008. Senators Gordon H. Smith and Ron Wyden
Ron Wyden
Ronald Lee "Ron" Wyden is the senior U.S. Senator for Oregon, serving since 1996, and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996....
supported the nomination, but it was made with less than six months remaining in the Bush Presidency. The nomination was not acted upon by the 110th Congress and was thus returned.
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Gordon Smith was defeated for re-election in 2008
United States Senate election in Oregon, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Gordon Smith decided to seek re-election. Smith was the only Republican Senator from the west coast and the only Republican holding statewide office in Oregon...
, and newly-elected President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
restarted the judicial selection process for the District of Oregon. Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Ron Wyden recommended Hernandez in addition to five other candidates selected by a thirteen-member judicial selection committee. On July 14, 2010, Obama renominated Hernandez to replace Garr King. He is one of few people to be nominated to the federal bench by presidents from two different political parties. The Senate failed to act on Obama's nomination, and President Obama nominated Hernandez again in January 2011. On February 7, 2011, the Senate unanimously confirmed Hernandez as the newest judge for the District of Oregon, and he received his commission on February 9.