Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall welcomed news today that the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved Raymond Moore’s nomination to the U.S. District Court of the District of Colorado. Moore, if confirmed by the full Senate, would replace Chief Judge Wiley Y. Daniel, who became a senior judge on Jan. 1, 2013. Moore is the federal public defender for Wyoming and Colorado, a position he has held since 2003.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee recognized that Raymond Moore has earned a reputation as being a thoughtful and tireless worker with a deep sense of purpose, commitment to ensuring that justice is served, and capacity for impartial decision-making,” Bennet said. “He will make a fine federal district judge and serve with distinction. I am pleased that the committee has recommended his nomination and I urge the full Senate to act quickly, confirm him and fill the vacant seat on the Federal District Court of Colorado.”
“Last month, I had the honor of introducing Raymond Moore to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and I told them Mr. Moore was the right man for the job. Today I am pleased members of the committee agreed with me and approved his nomination,” Udall said. “I urge my colleagues in the full Senate to quickly confirm Mr. Moore and help Colorado avoid additional harmful judicial backlogs.”
Moore, a graduate of Yale Law School (1978) and Yale College (1975), worked for Davis Graham & Stubbs from 1978 to 1982 and again from 1986 to 1992, when he joined the federal public defender’s office in Denver. Moore served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Denver from 1982 to 1986.
The vote today follows Udall and Bennet’s formation of a bipartisan, 11-member advisory committee. The advisory committee vetted numerous applicants in an open, competitive process before forwarding its recommendations to Udall and Bennet. The senators then forwarded the finalists to the White House.
Bennet and Udall praised Moore’s first nomination in November of last year, calling him, “a consummate professional and well respected throughout the community.” At the beginning of the year, the Senators urged the Senate to quickly confirm Moore, citing the need to ensure that Colorado’s courts help companies in the state create jobs and expediently resolve legal issues.