IVC grad nominated to federal bench
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Imperial Valley native and Imperial Valley College graduate Ruth Bermudez Montenegro has been nominated by President Joe Biden for a judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego.
If confirmed she would be the second Latina among 61 U.S. District Court judges in the state, a White House press release on Wednesday stated.
Montenegro has a long and distinguished legal career, including serving as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court branch in El Centro since 2018.
A woman who answered the phone at Montenegro’s magistrate office Thursday referred a reporter to the White House for any comment.
Montenegro also served as an Imperial County Superior Court commissioner and judge from 2012-18, where two former colleagues Thursday enthusiastically praised her abilities and demeanor.
“She is very kind with people, honest, forthcoming and hard working,” said Superior Court Judge Monica Lepe-Negrete. “She’s had an established commitment to our community long before she was on the bench.”
Those efforts include work with MANA de Imperial Valley, the local arm of a national organization that works to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service and advocacy, the organization’s website states.
“She has always been a great advocate for education,” said Superior Court Judge Christopher Plourd. “She has worked with MANA with local scholarships and helped students write letters for college applications.”
Montenegro also started an externship program when she was a judge that the local Superior Court has continued, the judges said. It allows high school, college and law school students to see first-hand how the court system works and be mentored by judges.
“It’s an example of her commitment to education,” Lepe-Negrete said.
Of Montenegro being a graduate of IVC and Central Union High School, she added, “It’s a huge accomplishment. It’s one of the things that will give hope to students that they too can achieve great things.”
While Montenegro still faces Senate confirmation, both Plourd and Lepe-Negrete said they have little doubt she will breeze through what has been a harrowing process