WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements on the nomination of Irma Carrillo Ramirez to fill a judicial vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:

“Judge Ramirez’s distinguished track record of judicial excellence throughout her decades of service in Texas makes her exceptionally qualified for the Fifth Circuit,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I am proud to recommend her for this position with Senator Cruz, and I look forward to seeing her continue to uphold the rule of law on the federal bench.”

“I am proud to partner with Senator Cornyn and our bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee to identify top Texas legal talent for the judiciary, and appreciate the White House working with us as vacancies arise,” said Sen. Cruz. “Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez has a 20-year record on the federal bench and I congratulate her on her nomination by the President today.”

The Senators recommended this nominee to President Biden following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the President.

Irma Carrillo Ramirez has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Texas since 2002. Previously, Judge Ramirez served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas from 1995 to 2002. Prior to that, she was as an associate at Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, PC from 1991 to 1995. Judge Ramirez received her J.D. from the Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1991 and her B.A. from West Texas State University in 1986.