The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is a
501(c)(6) organization representing
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
s in the legal profession, including
attorneys,
judges,
law professors,
legal assistant and paralegals, and
law student
Legal education is the education of individuals in the principles, practices, and theory of law. It may be undertaken for several reasons, including to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for admission to legal practice in a particular ...
s in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
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 a ...
.
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)]
. ''''. Government of the District of Columbia
The District of Columbia has a mayor–council government that operates under Article One of the United States Constitution and the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. The Home Rule Act devolves certain powers of the United States Congress to ...
. 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
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
'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
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...
'' (June 14, 2016). Subsequently, in 2016, Trump criticized a member of the HNBA, Judge
Gonzalo P. Curiel, 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
Mari Carmen Aponte (born 1946) is an American attorney and diplomat who has served as the United States Ambassador to Panama in the Biden administration since November 2022. She previously served as acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western ...
, 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, 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