Rodolfo Ruiz
Rodolfo Armando "Rudy" Ruiz II is a judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. On May 7, 2018, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Ruiz to a seat on this court. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ruiz on May 2, 2019, by a vote of 90-8.[1][2] He received commission on May 3, 2019.[3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of 94 U.S. district courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Ruiz was a judge of the Florida 11th Circuit Court, Civil Division, from 2015 to 2019. Gov. Rick Scott (R) appointed Ruiz to the state's 11th Circuit in November 2014 to succeed Judge Beth Bloom.[4]
Before his appointment to the 11th Judicial Circuit Court, Ruiz served as a judge on the Miami-Dade County Court in Florida. Gov. Rick Scott (R) appointed Ruiz to this bench in April 2012.[5]
Judicial nominations, appointments, and elections
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On May 7, 2018, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Ruiz to a seat on the Southern District of Florida. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ruiz on May 2, 2019, by a vote of 90-8.[1][2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Rodolfo Ruiz |
| Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 360 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: May 7, 2018
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: June 20, 2018
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: July 19, 2018 (first)/February 7, 2019 (second)
|
| Confirmed: May 2, 2019
|
| Vote: 90-8
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Ruiz on May 2, 2019, on a vote of 90-8.[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Ruiz confirmation vote (May 2, 2019) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
36 | 7 | 2 | ||||||
 Republican |
53 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
 Independent |
1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 90 | 8 | 2 | ||||||
Change in Senate rules
Ruiz was the eighth judge to be confirmed to a U.S. District Court under a new precedent the Senate established.
On April 3, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 in favor of a change to chamber precedent lowering the maximum time allowed for debate on executive nominees to posts below the Cabinet level and on nominees to district court judgeships from 30 hours after invoking cloture to two.[6]
The change was passed under a procedure, often referred to as the nuclear option, that requires 51 votes rather than 60.[7]
It was the third use of the nuclear option in Senate history. In 2013, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold to confirm presidential nominees, except those to the Supreme Court. In 2017, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold required to confirm Supreme Court nominees.[8] For more, see Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
Hearings on Ruiz's nomination were held on June 20, 2018. The Senate Judiciary Committee reported his nomination out of committee on July 19, 2018.[9][10]
The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported Ruiz's nomination on February 7, 2019.[11] Click here to see how the committee voted. Ruiz's nomination was one of 44 that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reported that day.
Nomination
Ruiz was nominated to succeed Judge William Zloch, who assumed senior status on January 31, 2017.[2]
At the sine die adjournment of the 115th Congress on January 3, 2019, the Senate returned Ruiz's nomination to President Trump.[12] Ruiz was one of 51 individuals the president re-nominated on January 23, 2019.[13]
The American Bar Association unanimously rated Ruiz well qualified.[14] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Florida 11th Circuit Court (2015-2019)
Ruiz was a judge of the Florida 11th Circuit Court, Civil Division, from 2015 to 2019. Gov. Rick Scott (R) appointed Ruiz to the state's 11th Circuit in November 2014 to succeed Judge Beth Bloom.[4]
Miami-Dade County Court (2012-2014)
Ruiz served as a judge on the Miami-Dade County Court in Florida from 2012 to 2014. Gov. Rick Scott (R) appointed Ruiz to this bench in April 2012.[5]
2014 election
- See also: Florida judicial elections, 2014
Ruiz ran for re-election to the Miami-Dade County Court. As an unopposed candidate, he was automatically re-elected without appearing on the ballot.[15]
Early life and education
Ruiz was born in Miami, Florida, in 1979. He received his B.S. from Duke University in 2002 and his J.D. degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2005. During his legal studies, Ruiz was an articles editor for the Georgetown Law Center's American Criminal Law Review from 2003 to 2005. He attended the London School of Economics from 2001 to 2002 but did not receive a degree.[16]
Professional career
- 2019-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- 2015-2019: Judge, Florida 11th Circuit Court
- 2012-2014: Judge, Miami-Dade County Court, Florida
- 2009-2012: Assistant county attorney, Miami-Dade County Attorney's Office
- 2006-2008: Attorney, White and Case LLP
- 2005-2006: Law clerk to Judge Federico Moreno, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida[16]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2018: Hispanic Heritage Judicial Trailblazer Award, Dade County Bar Association
- 2017: Distinguished Service Award for Commitment to Eliminate Bias in the Judicial System, Coalition of Southern Florida Muslim Organizations
- 2015: Award of Recognition, Miami Beach Bar Association
- 2014: Distinguished Leadership Award, Florida Conference of County Court Judges
- 2013: Justice for All Award for Outstanding Contributions to Victims of Crime, Coral Gables Police Department
Associations
- Member, Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, The Federalist Society
- Member, Dade County Bar Association
- Member, Federal Bar Association
- Member, Hispanic National Bar Association
- Member, Florida Association for Women Lawyers
- Member, Cuban-American Bar Association
- Member, Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association
- Member, Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyer's Association
- Member, Florida Muslim Bar Association
- Member, Coral Gables Bar Association
- Member, Miami Beach Bar Association
- Member, South Miami Kendall Bar Association
- Former member, Florida Conference of County Court Judges[16]
About the court
| Southern District of Florida |
|---|
| Eleventh Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 18 |
| Judges: 17 |
| Vacancies: 1 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Cecilia Altonaga |
| Active judges: Roy Altman, Cecilia Altonaga, Jacqueline Becerra, Beth Bloom, Aileen Cannon, Melissa Damian, William Dimitrouleas, Darrin P. Gayles, David Leibowitz, Jose E. Martinez, Donald Middlebrooks, Kevin M. Moore, Robin L. Rosenberg, Rodolfo Ruiz, Anuraag Singhal, Rodney Smith, Kathleen M. Williams Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit based in downtown Atlanta at the Elbert P. Tuttle Federal Courthouse.
The Southern District of Florida has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The district includes the South Florida metropolitan area of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Miami and West Palm Beach. It comprises 15,197 square miles and approximately 6.3 million people. Court offices are in Miami, Florida.[17]
The following counties are in the Southern District of Florida:
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
- Courts in Florida
- Miami-Dade County, Florida
- Judicial selection in Florida
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
- Florida 11th Circuit Court
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 White House, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Thirteenth Wave of Judicial Nominees and Seventh Wave of United States Marshal Nominees," April 26, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN250 — Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II — The Judiciary," accessed May 3, 2019
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Ruiz, Rodolfo Armando II," accessed May 7, 2019
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tampa Bay.com, "Movers & Shakers," November 10, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Office of the Florida Governor, "Press Release: Governor Scott Appoints Rodolfo Ruiz to the Miami-Dade County Court," April 25, 2012
- ↑ The Hill, "GOP triggers 'nuclear option' to speed up Trump picks," April 3, 2019
- ↑ Axios, "Senate GOP invokes 'nuclear option' to speed up confirmations of Trump nominees," April 3, 2019
- ↑ NBC News, "McConnell to use 'nuclear option' to confirm lower-level nominees," April 2, 2019
- ↑ U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," July 19, 2018
- ↑ Congress.gov, "PN1898 — Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II — The Judiciary," accessed July 19, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," February 7, 2019
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days. Congressional Research Service, "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," April 11, 2017
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," January 23, 2019
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees: 115th Congress," accessed May 3, 2019
- ↑ Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections, "Reporting group (Election/Committees) : General 2014," accessed June 11, 2014
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for judicial nominees: Rodolfo "Rudy" Armando Ruiz II," accessed May 3, 2019
- ↑ United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, "Official Website," accessed September 23, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Florida 11th Circuit Court 2015-2019 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Cecilia Altonaga • Jose E. Martinez (Florida) • Kevin M. Moore (Florida) • Donald Middlebrooks • William Dimitrouleas • Robin L. Rosenberg • Beth Bloom • Darrin P. Gayles • Kathleen M. Williams • Anuraag Singhal • Rodolfo Ruiz • Rodney Smith (Florida) • Roy Altman • Aileen Cannon • Jacqueline Becerra • Melissa Damian • David Leibowitz (Florida) | ||
| Senior judges |
Federico Moreno • James L. King • Jose Gonzalez (Florida) • Donald Graham • Daniel Hurley • Paul Huck • Patricia Seitz • William Zloch • Joan Lenard • Kenneth Marra • James Cohn • Robert N. Scola, Jr. • | ||
| Magistrate judges | John O'Sullivan (Florida) • Edwin Torres • Chris McAliley • William C. Turnoff • Lurana S. Snow • Jonathan Goodman • Alicia Otazo-Reyes • William Matthewman • Alicia O. Valle • Patrick M. Hunt • Bruce Reinhart • Lauren Fleischer Louis • Jared Strauss • Shaniek Maynard • Lisette M. Reid • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
George C. Young • William Hoeveler • Kenneth Ryskamp • Alan Gold • Adalberto Jordan • Ursula Ungaro • James Paine (Florida) • Stanley Marcus • William Marvin • Thomas Jefferson Boynton (Florida) • Peter Fay • David Dyer • James William Locke • John McKinney (Florida) • John Moses Cheney • Rhydon Mays Call • Alexander Akerman • Lake Jones • Halsted Lockwood Ritter • Louie Willard Strum • John Warthen Holland • Joseph Lieb • William McRae • Curtis Waller • George Whitehurst • Sidney Aronovitz • Carl Atkins • Ted Cabot • Emett Choate • Edward Davis (Florida) • Dozier DeVane • Joseph Eaton • Wilkie Ferguson • Charles Fulton • James Kehoe • William Mehrtens • Lenore Nesbitt • Norman Roettger • Thomas Scott (Florida district court judge) • Eugene Spellman • Robin Rosenbaum • John Bryan Simpson • William Julius Barker • Alcee Hastings • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
Federico Moreno • James L. King • Kevin M. Moore (Florida) • William Zloch • David Dyer • Louie Willard Strum • John Warthen Holland • George Whitehurst • Carl Atkins • Edward Davis (Florida) • Joseph Eaton • Charles Fulton • Norman Roettger • John Bryan Simpson • William Julius Barker • | ||
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
