Hispanic National Bar Association

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is a 501(c)(6) organization representing Hispanics in the legal profession, including attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistant and paralegals, and law students in the United States and its territories.

Hispanic National Bar Association
FoundedMarch 20, 1972 (1972-03-20)[1]
TypeLegal society
52-1333974[2]
Legal status501(c)(6) professional association[2]
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., United States
Irene Oria[3]
Alba Cruz-Hacker[3]
Revenue (2014)
$1,507,724[2]
Expenses (2014)$1,242,678[2]
Employees (2013)
3[2]
Volunteers (2013)
250[2]
WebsiteOfficial website
Mission: To improve the quality and the administration of justice by advocating for the interests of Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, paralegals, legal assistants and law students.[2]

History

The organization was founded in California on March 20, 1972, as La Raza National Lawyers Association;[1] its first president was Mario G. Obledo.[4] The organization's name was changed to Hispanic National Bar Association and reincorporated in the District of Columbia in 1984.[5]

Purpose

The association represents the interests of the more than 100,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, law students and paralegals in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. National officers are elected by the membership at large, and Regional Presidents are elected by their regional members.

Individual attorneys may join, and local Hispanic bar associations may become affiliated with the HNBA. The HNBA collaborates with the local Hispanic bars in over 100 cities in the United States, with other specialty bars, and with the American Bar Association. This group assists Hispanic Americans in defending their rights and improving their opportunities.[6]

Activities

The HNBA holds an annual convention, an Annual Mid-Year Conference and Moot Court Competition, 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.[7][8][9][10] 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.[11]

List of past presidents

Past presidents of the HNBA are as follows:[12]

  • 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, 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

References
  1. "La Raza National Lawyers Association Archived 2015-03-15 at the Wayback Machine". Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. Accessed on June 8, 2016.
  2. Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Taxes". Hispanic National Bar Association. Guidestar. October 31, 2014.
  3. "Board of Directors". Hispanic National Bar Association. Accessed on June 8, 2016.
  4. "Click here for 40 Things You Might Not Know About The HNBA!" (PDF). Hispanic National Bar Association. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  5. "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.
  6. Schultz, Jeffrey D. (January 2000). Encyclopedia of Minorities in American Politics: Hispanic Americans and Native Americans. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 467. ISBN 978-1-57356-149-5.
  7. Olen, Helaine (June 7, 2016). "Every bogus claim in Donald Trump's defense of Trump University". Slate Magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  8. "PRESS RELEASE: The Hispanic National Bar Association Rejects Trump's Racist Assertions". us4.campaign-archive2.com. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  9. McConnell, Dugald; Todd, Brian (June 9, 2016). "Requesting judge's recusal in Trump case could be risky, analysts say". CNN.
  10. Moran, Greg. "Donald Trump fights to keep videos of his Trump University testimony private", Los Angeles Times (June 14, 2016).
  11. Ortiz, Erik. "Trump University Case: Who Is Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel?", NBC News (June 2, 2016).
  12. "About Us", HNBA. Accessed September 17, 2016.
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