University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson today praised the White House's nomination of Christine Arguello to fill a vacancy on the bench of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
Arguello, chief legal counsel for CU-麻豆影院 since 2006, was named by President Bush Thursday for one of three vacancies on the federal court. She is a 1977 graduate of CU-麻豆影院 (with special honors) and a 1980 Harvard Law School graduate. She was the first Latina from Colorado admitted to Harvard's law school, the first Latina deputy attorney general in Colorado history and the first Hispanic partner 聳 male or female 聳 in one of Colorado's "big four" law firms, Denver's prestigious Holland & Hart
"Christine Arguello is one of CU's most accomplished alumni and one of the finest public servants with whom I have had the honor to serve," said Peterson. "As chief legal counsel for CU-麻豆影院, our entire campus community has benefitted from her principled approach to legal issues. Should her nomination to the bench be affirmed, our federal courts will profit from the fruits of her abundant wisdom, vast experience and unparalleled ethics."
Arguello's name was submitted to the White House by both of Colorado's U.S. Senators, Ken Salazar, a Democrat, and Wayne Allard, a Republican. Arguello served as chief deputy attorney general for Colorado under Salazar.
She has held a full tenured professorship in law at the University of Kansas and has taught at both the University of Colorado and University of Denver law schools.
"I am greatly humbled to be considered by the president and nominated by Colorado's two United States Senators for this judgeship," said Arguello. "To serve on the federal bench would be the pinnacle of my professional career and a personal honor without measure, though I would certainly miss all of my friends and colleagues at CU, my cherished alma mater."
Arguello Bio:
Christine Arguello is a Colorado native who was born in Thatcher and grew up in Buena Vista, Colorado. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 where she graduated with Special Honors, was number 1 in her class, and was selected Outstanding Senior of the School of Education class of 1977. In 1977, she became the first Latina from Colorado to be admitted to Harvard University School of Law. She graduated from Harvard Law School in 1980, where she served as Articles Editor for the Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law Review.
Since April of 2006, Ms. Arguello has been the Managing Senior Associate Counsel at the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 where she leads a team responsible for advising the campus on legal issues and assists in the development and implementation of campus policies and long-term strategic plans. Prior to joining CU, Ms. Arguello was a Partner at the law firm of Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP where she practiced creditors' rights law and commercial litigation, with special emphasis on employment law, including internal investigations of employment discrimination and sexual harassment.
Ms. Arguello has also had experience in both academia and government sector work. In June of 1991, Ms. Arguello left the practice of law to become an associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Law where she assumed responsibility for teaching and directing the School's Trial Advocacy Program and for teaching bankruptcy and contract law. In 1996, Ms. Arguello was honored for her exceptional teaching efforts and abilities when she was the first law professor to ever be awarded one of the most prestigious teaching awards given by the University of Kansas - the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. In April of 1998, she was granted tenure and promoted to the rank of Full Professor by the University of Kansas. Ms. Arguello is the co-author of a casebook, Evidence: The Objection Method, which is used in numerous law schools around the country. In January of 1999, Ms. Arguello left academia to join Ken Salazar's new administration in the Colorado Attorney General's office. From November 1, 2000 through December 31, 2002, Ms. Arguello served as Chief Deputy Attorney General where, in addition to being the chief advisor to the Attorney General, she was responsible for the administration of the Office of the Attorney General, including budget and expenditures, personnel, information services, security, crisis control, and policy.
Ms. Arguello is actively involved in the Denver metro community and most recently was appointed as Vice Chair of the Colorado Campaign for Inclusive Excellence. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Women's Bar Association Foundation, the Stapleton Development Corporation, and the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association. Ms. Arguello has received numerous honors and awards during her career including:
聲 "Scouting . . . Vale La Pena!" Service Award, Denver Area Boy Scout Council (2007)
聲 Qwest Diversity Trailblazer Individual of the Year, Rocky Mountain Legal Diversity Summit (2007).
聲 University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 Hispanic Alumni Association Leadership Award (2007).
聲 University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 Distinguished Alumnus Award (2002).
聲 The Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Fiesta Colorado Hispanic Pioneer Award (2001).
聲 The Colorado Women's Bar Association's Mary Lathrop Award, honoring women trailblazers (2000).
聲 The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association's Outstanding Hispanic Attorney Award (1999).
Leading by example, Ms. Arguello has blazed many trails for the next generation of Latinos. Among the lists of "firsts" for her are:
聲 In 1977, Ms. Arguello graduated from CU-麻豆影院 with special honors. She was the top graduate in her class and was selected as Outstanding Senior of her CU School of Education class.
聲 Also in 1977, Ms. Arguello became the first Colorado Latina to be admitted into Harvard University Law School.
聲 In 1988, when she was voted a partner at the law firm of Holland & Hart, Ms. Arguello became the first Hispanic - male or female - to be promoted to partner at one of the "big four" Colorado law firms.
聲 In 2000, Ms. Arguello became the first Hispanic chief deputy attorney general for the state of Colorado under Ken Salazar, now a United States senator.
Ms. Arguello has been married for more than 34 years to Ron Arguello, a Pueblo native, CU Alum, and elementary school teacher. They are the proud parents of four children 聳 Ronnie (also a CU alum), age 23, Tiffany, age 18, Jennifer, age 13, and Kenny, age 10.