For nearly two decades, U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez was a low-profile jurist handling routine immigration and drug cases in San Diego federal court. Fellow judges say he has been an ethical, conscientious worker and a team player. gave Benitez a rare “not qualified” rating when President George W. Bush nominated him for the lifetime district court position. He went to night school at San Diego State University while driving a tractor at his father-in-law’s farm. “Someone who comes from very difficult circumstances and rises to one of the very few federal judges in the United States.”

Source: Los Angeles Times August 08, 2021 12:56 UTC