PHOENIX (AP) - The U.S. Senate has confirmed three judges to federal District Court in Arizona, filling the remaining vacancies in one of the busiest courts in the country.
Attorney Rosemary Marquez, Judge James Soto and Judge Douglas Rayes received enough votes Thursday to serve on the federal bench.
Their confirmations come a day after three other nominees, including the first Native American woman federal judge, were approved.
Arizona judicial officials say the newly appointed judges will help address a growing case load and lack of adequate resources.
In the wake of so many cases, the court declared a judicial emergency in 2011 to temporarily suspend the deadline for bringing defendants to trial.
According to the federal courts, Arizona has the third-highest criminal caseload out of 94 federal trial courts in the U.S.
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