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 "excerpt": "David H. Urias, also known as David Herrera Urias, is a United States district judge for the District of New Mexico, appointed by President Biden in 2022.",
 "snippet": "David H. Urias, also known as David Herrera Urias, is a United States district judge for the District of New Mexico, appointed by President Biden in 2022.",
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 "markdown": "# David H. Urias\n\nDavid Herrera Urias (born 1967) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico since 2022.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> He was appointed by President Joseph R. Biden.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> He became the 25th U.S. District Judge in [New Mexico](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-mexico) since statehood in 1912.<sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Joseph R. Biden<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | December 17, 2021 (Senate voted 45 to 26)<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170513)</sup> |\n| Born | 1967 in Pecos, Texas<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., University of New Mexico, 1997; J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law, 2001<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nUrias was born in 1967 in Pecos, Texas.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> Having been raised in Albuquerque, he has maintained strong ties to the local community.<sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup> He attended the [University of New Mexico](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-new-mexico), where he received his bachelor's degree in 1997, and earned his J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2001.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nUrias began his career as a law clerk to Judge Vanessa Ruiz of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals from 2001 to 2002.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> He then entered private practice in New York City, where he was an associate at Fried, Frank, Shriver & Jacobson, LLP, and served as a MALDEF Civil Rights Fellow from 2002 to 2004.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup>\n\nIn 2004, Urias relocated to [San Antonio](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-antonio), Texas, to work as a staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), where he served until 2008.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup> In 2008, he returned to New Mexico and entered private practice in Albuquerque with the firm of Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Urias & Ward, P.A., where he practiced until 2021.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup> During his years in practice, he litigated cases before New Mexico state and federal courts, with experience in civil rights law, election law, and complex civil litigation.<sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden nominated Urias to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico on September 20, 2021.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup> The United States Senate confirmed the nomination on December 17, 2021, by a vote of 45 to 26.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170513)</sup> He received his commission on January 14, 2022.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup> On January 21, 2022, U.S. District Judge James O. Browning administered the oath of office to Urias in Albuquerque, and Albuquerque became his official duty station.<sup>[2](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: David Herrera Urias](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11226126)\n2. [Nomination of David Herrera Urias to Fill United States District Court Judicial Vacancy in the District of New Mexico Confirmed](https://www.nmd.uscourts.gov/sites/nmd/files/2022-Jan%2021_Press%20Release_Appointment%20of%20Daivd%20Urias%20as%20U.S.%20District%20Judge.pdf)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, December 17, 2021](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170513)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames T to Wo*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "speakable": "David H. Urias, also known as David Herrera Urias, is a United States district judge for the District of New Mexico, appointed by President Biden in 2022."
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