James Alan Soto (born July 1, 1950) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and former Arizona state court judge.
James A. Soto | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Soto in 2014 | |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona | |
| Assumed office June 9, 2014 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David C. Bury |
| Judge of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court | |
| In office 2001–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 1, 1950[1] Nogales, Arizona, U.S.[2] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Arizona State University (BS, JD) |
Biography edit
Soto received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971 from Arizona State University. He received a Juris Doctor in 1975 from Arizona State University College of Law. From 1975 to 1976, he worked in the law office of Nasib Karam. From 1976 to 1979, he was a sole practitioner of law. From 1979 to 1992, he was associated with various law partnerships. From 1992 to 2001, he was a shareholder of Soto, Martin and Coogan, P.C. Concurrently with his private practice, he held a number of public positions. From 1975 to 1983, he worked as a part-time deputy city attorney in the Office of the Nogales City Attorney. He worked as a part-time town attorney in Patagonia, Arizona in from 1975 to 1992. He worked as a part-time deputy county attorney for the Santa Cruz County Attorney's Office in 1979. From 2001 to 2014, Soto served on the Superior Court in Santa Cruz County, where he also served as presiding superior court judge.[3] Soto was elected to the bench as a Democrat.[4]
Federal judicial service edit
On December 19, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Soto to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, to the seat vacated by Judge David C. Bury, who assumed senior status on December 31, 2012.[5] On February 27 2014, his nomination was reported out of the committee.[6] On May 13, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on his nomination. On May 15, 2014, United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 61–35 vote.[7] Later that same day, his nomination was confirmed by a 93–1 vote.[8] He received his judicial commission on June 9, 2014.[9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Hubbell, Martindale (April 1997). Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Martindale-Hubbell. p. AZ25B. ISBN 9781561602223.
- ^ Hubbell, p. AZ25B
- ^ "President Obama Nominates Eight to Serve on the United States District Courts". whitehouse.gov. 19 December 2013 – via National Archives.
- ^ "Applicants sought to potentially fill Soto's seat". Nogales International. March 25, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
- ^ "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. 19 December 2013 – via National Archives.
- ^ "Executive Business Meeting". United States Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on James Alan Soto, of Arizona, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona)". United States Senate. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation James Alan Soto, of Arizona, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona)". Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ James A. Soto at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
External links edit
- James A. Soto at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- James A. Soto at Ballotpedia