Three federal judges speak with Whitman students

Whitman welcomed three United States District Court federal judges to campus this weekend.

Judge Ricardo S. Martinez, Judge Richard A. Jones and Trustee Emeritus Judge James L. Robart ’69 all serve as federal district court judges in the Western District of Washington. Their trip to Walla Walla provided an opportunity for Whitman staff and students to hear more about life in the legal profession and to learn from their years of experience.

Martinez, Jones and Robart met with students interested in pursuing a career in law. In addition, the Intercultural Center also organized meetings with representatives from a number of student groups across campus, including Feminists Advocating Change and Empowerment, First Generation Working Class Students and Club Latino, whose members held a discussion with Martinez about his role as the first Latino judge appointed to the Western District federal court.

During their visit, the three judges also attended a Constitutional Law class with Assistant Professor of Politics Jack Jackson (pictured above) and met with students who are involved in the State of the State for Washington Latinos project run by Prof. Paul Apostolidis, Judge & Mrs. Timothy A. Paul Endowed Chair of Political Science.

Robart is a Whitman alumnus, a Phi Beta Kappa member and a Trustee Emeritus of Whitman College. He received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1973. Martinez is a 1980 University of Washington School of Law graduate. Jones received his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, as well, in 1975.