December 13, 2023

Wyden Urges Senate Judiciary Committee to Support Judge Amy Baggio’s Nomination

Watch a video of Wyden deliver his remarks here

As prepared for delivery

Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham, members of the committee, I’m very pleased to join you this morning to introduce Judge Amy Baggio, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

Judge Baggio comes before the Committee today with extensive experience as both a jurist and a litigator. That experience includes four years on the bench as a judge with the Multnomah County Circuit Court, as well as 18 years practicing criminal defense. That includes a decade as a public defender, ensuring that defendants have counsel as is guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment. As a lawyer, she focused on especially complex cases and has argued before the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon as well as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In her career on the bench, she has presided over hundreds of civil and criminal matters and handled 42 trials, half of which were jury trials. Throughout her career as a judge, it is a testament to Judge Baggio’s fairness that she has never had any party, either the defense or prosecution, file a request for a different judge. 

In addition to being fair, she has consistently demonstrated an ability to make thoughtful decisions that protect communities and their values. For example, in one case, she sentenced a man to 34 years in prison for disturbing crimes, including first degree sexual abuse. That sentence was more than five times as long as the 75 month sentence sought by defense counsel. Despite an appeal from the defense on multiple issues, her decisions in that case were ultimately affirmed. This is just one of many examples in a record that is proof positive of her dedication to the law and extraordinary competence in applying it. 

I could go on and on about her judiciary accomplishments, but I also want to talk about Judge Baggio’s volunteer experience mentoring the next generation of judicial talent. As an attorney, Judge Baggio long served as a mentor for newer lawyers, and following her appointment to the bench, she continued this through her roles with mentorship programs at the Oregon State Bar and the Oregon Judicial Department. She also spent a number of years volunteering at an elementary school, providing support to help individual students with reading. This is evidence of the deep care she has for her community and the time and energy she commits to giving back to those both inside and outside of the legal community.

It’s clear why Judge Baggio advanced through a bipartisan judicial selection committee made up of a broad range of legal professionals that I established with Senator Merkley. That committee evaluated Judge Baggio’s qualifications and character and was obviously impressed. And it is no surprise that she received a unanimous “well qualified” rating from the American Bar Association. Her judicial temperament, evenhandedness, compassion, and dedication to the law will serve the District Court of Oregon well. I urge all members of this committee to support Judge Baggio’s nomination, and I will happily speak further with any member to help get her nomination approved.

Congratulations again to Judge Baggio on her nomination, and thank you again to Chairman Durbin and the committee for the opportunity to introduce her this morning.

###