Salvador Mendoza, Jr.

Salvador Mendoza Jr. (born 1971) is an American lawyer serving as United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He previously served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington from 2014 to 2022 and as a Washington state court judge from 2002 to 2014.

Early life and education Mendoza was born in 1971 in Pacoima, California, as the third of five children to parents who immigrated to the United States from Mexico. He grew up in the Mid-Columbia region of Washington state. Mendoza graduated from Prosser High School in 1990.

Mendoza received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1994 from the University of Washington. Mendoza served as a judge pro tempore in various district, municipal, and juvenile courts in Benton County and Franklin County. Mendoza was a board member of the Benton-Franklin Legal Aid Society. He also helped establish two county-level juvenile drug courts.

Judicial career State judicial service Mendoza ran for a vacant seat on the superior court for Benton and Franklin counties in 2008, but lost the election. In May 2013, however, Mendoza was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to fill another vacancy on the court. Mendoza's name was forwarded to Obama by Senator Patty Murray upon the recommendation of a bipartisan committee of eight that reviewed candidates for the Eastern District of Washington. On April 3, 2014, his nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a 17–1 vote. On June 12, 2014, Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture on his nomination. On June 16, 2014, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 55–37 vote. On June 17, 2014, his nomination was confirmed by a 92–4 vote. Mendoza received his judicial commission two days later. On April 25, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Mendoza to the seat to be vacated by Judge M. Margaret McKeown, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. On May 11, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On June 9, 2022, his nomination was favorably reported by the committee by an 11–9–2 vote. On September 6, 2022, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed cloture on his nomination. On September 8, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 48–43 vote. On September 12, 2022, his nomination was confirmed by a 46–40 vote. He received his judicial commission on September 15, 2022.

Notable cases

On November 13, 2023, Mendoza was in a 7–4 majority that temporarily blocked Idaho's abortion ban due to its lack of exceptions for medical emergencies. On January 5, 2024, the Supreme Court said it would take up the case and stayed the 9th Circuit's temporary injunction. The Supreme Court later vacated its stay in Moyle v. United States, returning the case back to the 9th Circuit en banc panel which was subsequently dismissed.

Personal life Mendoza lives in Kennewick, Washington. He is married to Mia Mendoza née Danielson, an attorney; they have three children.