The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is a

501(c)(6) A 501(c) organization is a nonprofit organization in the federal law of the United States according to Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)) and is one of over 29 types of nonprofit organizations exempt from some federal income taxes. S ...

organization representing Hispanics in the legal profession, including attorneys,

judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...

law professor A jurist is a person with expert knowledge of law; someone who analyses and comments on law. This person is usually a specialist legal scholar, mostly (but not always) with a formal qualification in law and often a legal practitioner. In the Uni ...

s, legal assistant and paralegals, and law students in the United States and its

territories A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...

History

The organization was founded in California on March 20, 1972, as La Raza National Lawyers Association;La Raza National Lawyers Association
". ''Business Entity Detail''. California Secretary of State. Accessed on June 8, 2016. its first president was Mario G. Obledo. The organization's name was changed to Hispanic National Bar Association and reincorporated in the District of Columbia in 1984.Hispanic National Bar Association (The)
. '' District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs''. Government of the District of Columbia. Accessed on June 8, 2016.

Purpose

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is an incorporated, not-for-profit, national membership association that represents the interests of over 67,000+ Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, law students, and legal professionals in the United States and its territories. Since 1972, the HNBA has acted as a force for positive change within the legal profession by creating opportunities for Hispanic lawyers and by helping generations of lawyers to succeed. The HNBA has also effectively advocated on issues of importance to the national Hispanic community. While we are proud of our accomplishments, we are mindful that our mission is as vital today as it was nearly five decades ago, especially as the U.S. Hispanic population continues to grow.

Activities

The HNBA holds an Annual Corporate Counsel Conference and Moot Court Competition as well as an Annual Convention, an Annual Legislative Day and an Annual International Conference open to all attorneys and affiliates from around the country. Each year, the HNBA also organizes a variety of events for lawyers and law students throughout its 19 regions, and several community outreach and education initiatives. The HNBA sometimes condemns rhetoric that it perceives as "divisive and racist" and aimed at immigrants. For example, in response to Donald Trump's comments regarding illegal immigration from Mexico to the United States, and Trump's derogatory remarks about some of those immigrants, the group's president issued a press release in July 2015 calling for a boycott of all Donald Trump-owned businesses.Moran, Greg.
"Donald Trump fights to keep videos of his Trump University testimony private"
'' Los Angeles Times'' (June 14, 2016). Subsequently, in 2016, Trump criticized a member of the HNBA, Judge

Gonzalo P. Curiel Gonzalo Paul Curiel (born September 7, 1953) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Early life and education Curiel was born in East Chicago, Indiana, the youngest of four ...

, and the President of the HNBA issued a statement defending Curiel.

List of past presidents

Past presidents of the HNBA are as follows:"About Us"
HNBA. Accessed September 17, 2016. *Mario G. Obledo, 1972–1977 *Benjamin Aranda III, 1977–1980 *John Roy Castillo, 1980–1981 *Robert Maes, 1981–1982 *Lorenzo Arredondo, 1982–1983 * Mari Carmen Aponte, 1983–1984 *Gilbert F. Casellas, 1984–1985 *Robert Mendez, 1985–1986 *William Mendez, 1986–1987 *Michael Martinez, 1987–1988 *Mark Gallegos, 1988–1989 *Jimmy Gurule, 1989–1990 *Robert J. Ruiz, 1990–1991 *Dolores Atencio, 1991–1992 *Carlos Ortiz, 1992–1993 *

Wilfredo Caraballo Wilfredo Caraballo (born January 1, 1947, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1996 to 2008. He represented the 29th legislative district. Caraballo also serve ...

, 1993–1994 *Mary T. Hernandez, 1994–1995 *Jose Gaitan, 1995–1996 *Hugo Chaviano, 1996–1997 *Gregory Vega, 1997–1998 *Lillian Apodaca, 1998–1999 *Alice Velazquez, 1999–2000 *Rico Rafael Santiago, 2000–2001 *Angel G. Gomez, 2001–2002 *Duard D. Bradshaw, 2002–2003 *Carlos Singh, 2003–2004 *Alan Varela, 2004–2005 *Nelson A. Castillo, 2005–2006 *

Jimmie V. Reyna Jimmie V. Reyna (born November 11, 1952) is an American lawyer, former president of the Hispanic National Bar Association, and a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

, 2006–2007 *Victor M. Marquez, 2007–2008 * Ramona E. Romero, 2008–2009 *Roman D. Hernandez, 2009–2010 *Diana Sen, 2010–2011 *Benny Agosto, Jr., 2011–2012 *Peter M. Reyes, Jr., 2012–2013 *Miguel Alexander Pozo, 2013–2014 *Cynthia D. Mares, 2014–2015 *Robert T. Maldonado, 2015–2016 *Pedro Torres-Díaz, 2016–2017 *Erica V. Mason, 2017–2018 *Jennifer Salinas, 2018–2019 *Irene Oria, 2019-2020 *Elia Diaz-Yaeger, 2020-2021

References

External links

*
California La Raza Lawyers

Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County

Puerto Rican Bar Association website
{{Authority control American bar associations Organizations established in 1972 Hispanic and Latino American professional organizations 1972 establishments in the United States 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations