Senator Murray Announces Confirmation of Second Washington State Judge This Week

Photo – Working to Confirm James Robart in the Judicicary Committee Earlier this Year

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, for the second time this week, the Senate unanimously confirmed a federal judge from Washington state nominated by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). James Robart was confirmed to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington by a vote of 99-0 after Senator Murray worked for months with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and the White House to select the nominee and get him confirmed.

“Jim Robart is an outstanding attorney who will without question serve our state well. For the second time in a week, we’ve seen that the collaborative process our state uses for judicial selections works for everyone,” Murray said.

For more than 30 years, Robart has been a respected member of the Seattle legal community. He is currently the Managing Partner at Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, and is an expert in complex litigation. He was the lead counsel in a constitutional challenge on a Washington initiative that would have required all state residents to vote on all tax increases. The Washington State Supreme Court found the initiative unconstitutional.

In addition, Robart has also handled several other important cases in Washington state, including many energy cases and disputes regarding intellectual property. He has received a unanimous “well qualified” rating by the American Bar Association. Robart has also been actively involved with the Seattle Children’s Home, which offers mental health services and special education for Seattle’s most at-risk youth; and with the Children Home Society of Washington, which is renowned for providing parenting skills statewide to troubled families.

“Jim Robart is a man whose professionalism, fairness, thoughtfulness and compassion set a great example for so many people in our state. I’m very proud to have nominated him, and to have worked to see his confirmation through,” Murray said.

Success Confirming Washington Judges

Murray has led several bipartisan efforts to confirm Washington state judges, including:

• Richard Tallman’s confirmation as a U.S. Circuit Judge for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2000;
• Ron Leighton’s confirmation as a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Washington (Tacoma) in 2002;
• Lonny Suko, who was confirmed July 15, 2003 as the new U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Washington;
• Ricardo Martinez, confirmed on Tuesday as a District Court Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington