AFJ Letter of Support for Amy Baggio

The Honorable Richard Durbin
Chairman
Senate Judiciary Committee

Dear Chairman Durbin:

On behalf of the Alliance for Justice (AFJ), a national association representing more than 150 public interest and civil rights organizations, I write to support the confirmation of Judge Amy Baggio to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. Judge Baggio is an immensely qualified nominee who will bring much needed professional diversity to the federal bench.

Since graduating from law school at Lewis & Clark in 2001, Judge Baggio has dedicated her career to public service. She has two decades of experience in criminal defense—experience shared by only 8 percent of federal judges. Judge Baggio started her career in the Metropolitan Public Defender’s office in Portland, Oregon, where she argued criminal defense cases before state courts. In 2002, she transitioned to take on federal litigation, joining the Federal Public Defender’s office for the District of Oregon. In 2005, Judge Baggio was elevated to Assistant Public Defender, handling an average caseload of 40 to 60 cases at a time. In total, she represented 250 clients, ensuring that, regardless of wealth or socio-economic status, these defendants received excellent representation.

In 2012, Judge Baggio founded her solo practice, Baggio Law, continuing to represent criminal defendants. The majority of her clients were court-appointed, testifying to Judge Baggio’s commitment to the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. During her time in private practice, she also performed extensive volunteer work for the Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners and the Public Defense Services Commission.

After seven years in private practice, Judge Baggio was appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to the Multnomah County Court as a circuit court trial judge. Since joining the bench in 2019, she has overseen 42 trials, half of which were jury trials. Judge Baggio has distinguished herself as a thoughtful, fair-minded jurist with a profound commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.

Judge Baggio’s years of public defense experience, combined with her time as a state court judge and public service-oriented mindset, make her extremely well-suited to join the federal bench. Accordingly, we urge your office, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate as a whole to work swiftly to secure her confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

Sincerely,

Rakim Brooks
President, Alliance for Justice