MABA Newsletter Volume 9, Issue 2, 2013

Artwork by Lalo Alcaraz
Mexican American Bar Association
2013 Volume 9, Issue 2 | www.mabaattorneys.com
MABA is committed to the advancement of Latinos in the legal profession and
the empowerment of the Latino community through service and advocacy.
Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
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The President’s Message H H H H H H H H H
Elizabeth P. Uribe
2013 MABA President
2013 EXECUTIVE BOARD
MEMBERS & TRUSTEES
Greetings
work with other bar associations and this
Fellow
is something we have focused on this
EXECUTIVE BOARD
MABistas,
year. To this end, we also co-hosted an
Elizabeth P. Uribe, President
Greetings
Elimination of Bias MCLE with APABA,
Fellow
Langston and LGLA; participated in the
MABistas,
Celebration of Judicial Diversity under
It is hard to
Governor Brown through our
believe that
membership in the Multicultural Bar
more than half
Alliance; co-hosted a mixer with
the year is now
grateful to all our sponsors who helped
behind us! It has been a very busy year
make it one of the best tournament's we
for MABA and we hope that you have
have had.
•••
Law Office of Elizabeth P. Uribe
Erick Solares, President-Elect
California Department of Transportation,
Gladdys J. Uribe, Vice-President
Law Office of Enrique Arevalo
Sean Andrade, Secretary
Andrade Knott & Gonzalez LLP
Felipe de la Torre, Treasurer
Office of the Alternate Public Defender
Maria Ramirez, Newsletter Editor
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Cindy Panuco, Membership Director
Hadsell Stormer Keeny Richardson & Renick LLP
had the opportunity to partake in the
events we have hosted this year. It has
We have also continued to fulfill our
been one of our goals to encourage our
responsibility to the community. As you
membership to be active in MABA's
may recall, this year we launched our
committees, mentorship program and
Federal Judicial Externship program for
volunteer opportunities.
our law students. The three selected
students have successfully completed
•••
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Alejandro Becerra
Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & Powell
Elizabeth Alamillo
Law Office of Enrique Arevalo
Miguel Duarte
Law Offices of Miguel Duarte
Our annual softball tournament was a
their summer externship and we look
day of fun and friendly competition out at
forward to the future growth and success
the park. Congratulations to Latino Comp
of this program. Also, our annual legal
for winning first place, and to the
fair was held at Bell Gardens High School
Whistleblowers and the Orange County
and provided our members with the
Hispanic Bar Association, our second and
opportunity to offer free legal
third place winners. Our Spring Mixer co-
consultations to the community. With
hosted by Latino Comp and The Esquire
over 80 attorney volunteers we were able
Network at the San Antonio Winery was
to offer consultations to over 600 people.
an opportunity reconnect with old
The need for legal education, advice and
Shelley Dominguez
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
Pamela Villanueva
Office of the Public Defender
Humberto Guizar
Law Office of Humberto Guizar
Pete Navarro
Law Offices of Pete R. Navarro
Sergio C. Tapia
Office of the Alternate Public Defender
Araceli Campos
friends, network, and meet new people.
It was a great opportunity for MABA to
Juan Ramos
Law Office of Juan Ramos
See President, page 4
MALDEF
Jennifer Macias
Student Trustee
•••
Maria Torres
Executive Administrator
MAIN OFFICE
Mexican American Bar Association
of Los Angeles County
714 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 450
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tel: 213-749-2889 • Fax: 213-749-1740
2013 MABA BOARD
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS & TRUSTEES
www.mabaattorneys.com
www.mabaattorneys.com
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Los Angeles Superior Court Exhibit
Spotlights Mexican American Legal Roots
By Judge Michael L. Stern, Los Angeles Superior Court
An historical exhibit that was recently installed at the downtown
Mosk Courthouse highlighting the first 100 years of the Los
Angeles Superior Court features the first Mexican American
judges in Los Angeles.
Judge Agustin Olvera served as
Los Angeles’s first District Judge
(1850-1852) soon after
Clocktower Courthouse
where Ignacio Sepulveda presided.
California attained statehood in
1849. Under California’s
Mexico City, where he represented American interests as a
bilingual First Constitution, he
confidant of President Porfirio Diaz. Migrating back to Los
conducted proceedings in
Angeles after the Mexican Revolution of 1910, Sepulveda died
English and Spanish. Most
with slight notice in 1916. A well-known Los Angeles street
everyone has visited Olvera
bears his name.
Street, named for him at the
Judge
Ignacio Sepulveda
historic Los Angeles Plaza.
Not a single Mexican American was appointed to the Los Angele
Superior Court until 80 years later when Judge Carlos Teran
Ignacio Sepulveda grew up and became an attorney in Los
appointed by Governor Pat Brown in 1959. A community activist
Angeles in 1863. His sense of adventure then propelled him to
who founded the Pomona Boys and Girls Club, Judge Teran’s
Mexico, where he served as a legal officer in Emperor
distinguished judicial career spanned 20 years on the bench. He
Maximilian’s army against the forces of Benito Juarez. Following
passed away in 2009.
the Emperor’s execution and his own imprisonment, Sepulveda
returned to Los Angeles. He was elected as a County and
The “Highlights of the First Hundred Years” exhibit displays
District judge and appointed as one of the two first Los
historical documents from the Superior Court archives and a
Angeles Superior Court judges in 1879. Sepulveda held judicial
revolving video of 70 vintage photos with commentaries. It is
office until 1883, when he resigned and was virtually run out
located at the Grand Avenue entrance to the Mosk Courthouse.
of town by anti-Latino newcomers from the East. He fled to
Judge Carlos Terran, appointed to the
Superior Court in 1957, served 20 years.
Judge Carlos Terran was the first
Mexican American appointed since
Judge Ignacio Supulveda served
80 years before.
Examining portrait of Agustin Olvera,
First District Judge, 1850 – 1852.
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Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
President
MABA PAST PRESIDENTS
Continued from page 2
adequate representation in our
will be launching very soon. This will be a
community is great. Many members of
beneficial program to both our
our community are often preyed upon
community and our LRIS members as we
and fall victim to fraud. While we
will finally be able to refer our callers to
cannot offer free legal representation our
trustworthy attorneys.
goal is to refer our community to
reputable attorneys that can assist them.
Our organization and our events would
Our LRIS committee has been working
not be possible without our membership.
tirelessly to revamp our program which
As always, I encourage all of you to
participate in our events,
committees and be active
participants of MABA. I hope to
see you all at one of our
upcoming events, including the
Fall Mixer, Judge's Night or one
of our MCLE's.
En Solidaridad,
Elizabeth P. Uribe, MABA President, Imad Elias,
Arab American Lawyers Association of
Southern California (AALASC), President, and
Hyongsoon Kim, Korean American Bar
Association (KABA), President
Elizabeth P. Uribe
2013 MABA President
562-692-7000
2012 Rigoberto J. Arrechiga
2011 Victor Acevedo
2010 Judy Perez
2009 Mario Trujillo
2008 Pete Navarro
2007 Efrain Aceves
2006 Claire Cifuentes
2005 Alan R. Diamante
2004 Edward Ortega
2003 Maribel Medina
2002 Cristina Perez-Gonzalez
2001 Luis Rodriguez
2000 James E. Blancarte
1999 Arnoldo Casillas
1998 M. Leslie Stearns
1997 Maria Villa
1996 Yvonne Flores
1995 Enrique Arevalo
1994 Martha Melendez
1993 Martha Romero
1992 Raul Granados
1991 Raul Ayala
1990 Marcia Gonzales-Kimbrough
1989 Debra Gonzales
1988 Monica Jimenez
1987 Gustavo Barcena
1986 Armando Duron
1985 Carlos Zaragoza
1984 Jaime Cervantes
1983 James E. Blancarte
1982 Honorable Carlos Moreno
1981 Esther Valadez
1980 Oscar Parra
1979 Daniel Garcia
1978 Honorable John Martinez
1977 Honorable Ben Aranda*
1976 Lawrence De Fuentes*
1975 Frank Munoz*
1974 Stanley Delnick
1973 Honorable Joseph Armijo*
1972 Ernest Gallego
1971 Honorable Victor Chavez
1970 Oscar Munguia*
1969 Lorenzo Pereyda*
1968 Manuel Aranda (resigned)
1967 Manuel Valenzuela*
1966 Martin Castillo
1965 Honorable Ray Cardenas
1964 Herman Sillas
1963 Manuel S. Martinez*
* Deceased
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MABA Takes a Stand for Humane Immigration Reform
By Araceli Campos, MABA Trustee
MABA urges the Los Angeles legal community to unify
for potential implementation in the coming year.
• MABA is pleased to announce a partnership with MALDEF,
ACS, and others to host a major Immigration Reform MCLE
Event on Wednesday, October 23, from 6-8pm at MALDEF’s
With the largest number of undocumented immigrants of any
county in the United States, Los Angeles will play a critical role in
setting a model for implementation of potential immigration
reform in the coming year. More specifically, Los Angeles
attorneys will play the leading role in meeting immigrant
National Headquarters, 634 S. Spring Street, in downtown
Los Angeles.
} Take a stand against immigration fraud and support only
legislation that would effectively address immigration
fraud.
community needs should immigration reform become reality.
• MABA has opposed AB 1159 because, instead of addressing
MABA urges everyone in the Los Angeles legal community to
immigration fraud, it adds extraordinary burdens on ethical
unify around humane immigration reform and potential
attorneys, needlessly driving up the cost of ethical
implementation in the following ways:
representation, and treats attorneys as notarios, adding to the
} Take a stand for humane federal immigration reform,
focused on recognizing the dignity of the 11 million
undocumented immigrants who contribute so much to
this country and to our local Los Angeles community.
• MABA has advocated Congress for legislation that includes a
clear pathway to citizenship, a streamlined timeline for
naturalization, and critical immigrant integration programs.
• MABA continues advocacy to ensure that the discourse focus
on humane immigration reform instead of on current
misconception that they are the same.
• MABA has made itself available to work with our policymakers
to identify effective ways to protect consumers from
immigration fraud.
• MABA’s full letter to the California Legislature and State Bar will
be e-blasted to all members.
} Support MABA’s Legal Information Referral Service (LRIS)
Program.
• MABA is pleased to announce that after several years of
criminalization of immigrant communities through
planning with the State Bar, MABA has launched its LRIS
enforcement and deportations.
Program to connect community members with ethical
• MABA’s full letter to the U.S. Senate will be e-blasted to
all members.
} Become educated / share information about humane
immigration reform.
• MABA is looking to expand partnerships to educate community
members about potential federal immigration reform.
attorneys, including ethical immigration attorneys.
} Volunteer pro bono in immigration clinics to serve local
immigrant community members.
• Should federal immigration reform become a reality, pro bono
attorneys will be needed to support community legal fairs to
help with local implementation education and service.
Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
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LATINO COMP WINS 5th ANNUAL MABA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
By Erick Solares, President-Elect
On May 4th, 2013, the Mexican American
be just as exciting as the morning ones and
wishes to extend a very special “thank you”
Bar Association (MABA) held its 5th Annual
when the qualifying rounds were over, it
to Jeremy Leyva of The Bail Hotline Bail
Softball Tournament at the Whittier Narrows
became clear that LATINO COMP, OCHBA
Bonds, the Gold Glove Sponsor for this
Recreation Area in the beautiful city of
and the Hadsell, Stormer, Richardson &
event. Funds raised from this tournament are
South El Monte. Eleven teams, representing
Renick firm would be battling for the
being applied toward scholarships for Federal
various sectors of the legal profession,
championship. In the playoff game, OCHBA
Judicial Externships sponsored by MABA. We
participated in this day-long event which
faced off against the Hadsell firm and, in a
look forward to seeing all of you again next
proved to be highly competitive.
close game, the Hadsell firm defeated
year. The LPA has promised that it will
OCHBA. In the championship game, the
reclaim the title!
The teams were divided into two brackets-
Hadsell firm ran into a fierce LATINO COMP
the Minors and the Majors. The Minors
team that ended the day with a perfect
bracket consisted of MABA, the
record and conquered the championship.
Benchwarmers, the EWI’s, the firm of
Hadsell, Stormer, Richardson & Renick, and
Although MABA did not make the playoffs, it
the Office of the Alternate Public Defender
finished the day with a very respectable 3-1
(APD). The Majors bracket was comprised of
record. MABA wishes to thank all the teams
the Japanese American Bar Association
and individual players who participated in this
(JABA), the firm of Sedgwick, Deter, Moran,
fun-filled softball tournament. MABA also
Arnold LLP, the Orange County Hispanic Bar
Association (OCHBA), LATINO COMP, the
Latino Public Defender’s Association and,
last year’s champs, the Latino Prosecutor’s
Association (LPA). The teams played two
morning qualifying games before being
treated to a delicious taco lunch catered by
Paulina’s Restaurant. The lunch break gave
players the opportunity to mingle with
players from other teams, friends and family.
The afternoon qualifying games proved to
www.mabaattorneys.com
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Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
Annual MABA Summer Golf Tournament
By Miguel Duarte, MABA Trustee
On July 26th, MABA hosted the 10th
Tropicana Cuban Bakery respectively.
Annual Golf Tournament at the
The tournament was a foursome scramble
Montebello Country Club. This year’s
format and awards were handed out to
event was the largest tournament held to
the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, longest drive,
date with 152 golfers participating. MABA
and the most honest score last place team.
raisee over $15,000 thanks in large part
On the golf course the players were
to increased participation by sponsors and
treated to alcoholic and non-alcoholic
Breatheasy Insurance, Bronze sponsors
players. Golfers of all talent levels enjoyed
beverages and were able to personally
Bad Boy Bail Bonds, Courtcall, Law Offices
interact with sponsors at their designated
of Jacob Mojarro, and Tredway,
holes. There were two alcohol sponsors,
Lumsdaine & Doyle, LLP. Century West
Classic Distributing Group and Apocalypto
Tequila. Golfers also enjoyed tacos, bacon
wrapped hotdogs, nachos and spring rolls.
After the tournament, the awards
banquet included a buffet lunch and a
silent auction and raffle. Silent auction
the spoils that come with participating
items consisted of Dancing with the Stars
such as golf bags filled with swag items
live show tickets, premium cigars donated
including golf shirts, drawstring bags,
by Havana House Cigars and Lounge, a
BMW was our hole in one sponsor once
chips, Tapatio salsa, golf balls, coffee
golf bag, airplane ride to Catalina island,
again and our golf shirt sponsor was the
mugs and more. This year’s golfers were
and premium wine and tequila.
Law Offices of Ricardo Perez. We would
also treated to breakfast by El Mexicano
The raffle items this year
restaurant and gourmet coffee and
consisted of premium
pastries by Pasquini Espresso and
alcoholic beverages and the
highlight of the raffle, an
Aeron business chair
donated by Herman Miller.
We would like to thanks our
Gold sponsor Independence
Financial and Insurance
Services, Silver sponsor
www.mabaattorneys.com
like to also thank our Tee Table
sponsors Bail Hotline Bail Bonds,
Gilbert Mares & Associates, Gorilla
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MABA LRIS 2.0
...coming soon.
Spring Mixer
By Alejandro G. Becerra,
MABA Trustee, LRIS Chair
Members came together for our annual
Marketing, John MacDonald Insurance,
Last Minute Mobile Notary, New York
Life Insurance and Pocrass & De Los
Reyes LLP.
Los Angeles–On May 30, 2013 MABA
Spring Mixer at the historic San Antonio
Winery in Los Angeles.
For a year and a half, MABA has
been hard at work to re-launch
MABA’s Lawyer Referral and
Information Service (LRIS).
The year’s committee consisted of
Chair Miguel Duarte, Co-chair Ricardo
The LRIS committee has met several
Perez, MABA administrator Maria
times with representatives from The
Torres, committee members Maria
State Bar of California. The State Bar
has been supportive and instrumental
in making sure MABA’s LRIS will be in
operation in the very near future.
We were joined at the event by our
One of the many things that MABA
friends and co-sponsors, the Latino
has done recently is to lease new
Association of Workers’ Compensation
office space for the LRIS and is in the
Professionals and the Esquire Network.
process of hiring a new LRIS
The event gave us an opportunity to
Coordinator.
renew old friendships and begin new
ones. It also gave us an opportunity to
Ramirez, Shelley Dominguez, Jon
The LRIS program will ensure that our
enjoy the beautiful setting of the San
Garza, Pamela Villanueva, and Felipe
community will have access to
Antonio winery and their terrific wine.
de la Torre. We personally want to
competent and insured attorneys.
Thanks to our members and friends, the
thank all our sponsors who made this
2013 Spring Mixer was a great success.
year’s event such a great success and
Also, the LRIS will provide the
helped raise money for MABA which
opportunity for our members to sign
will go to fund programs such as the
up as Panel Members. In return, the
legal fair and scholarships for law
LRIS Panel Members will have
students.
increased access to our community
and a greater opportunity to develop
their own practices.
MABA is committed to the success of
the LRIS. In the coming month,
MABA’s membership will be given
more details of this great enterprise
and will be invited to become a Panel
Member.
Please stay tuned...
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Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
MABA Legal Fair
By Alejandro G. Becerra, MABA Trustee
This year’s MABA Annual Legal Fair was a
community. Equally important, MABA had
great success! It was held at Bell Gardens
the support of individual sponsors and local
High School on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from
TV and print media.
9am – 4pm.
As chair of this year’s Legal Fair, I want to
MABA had the support of over 35 volunteers,
thank all the MABA members and
including attorneys, law students and
individuals who participated in making this
members of the community help out with
event a reality because together we lived up
logistics on the day of the event. In addition,
to MABA’s mission of empowering the
71 attorneys answered MABA’s call to give
Latino community.
back to the community and volunteered their
time to give free legal consultations to an
estimated 600 community members. The
main areas of law covered by our volunteer
attorneys included immigration, family,
criminal, workers’ compensation, personal
injury, landlord-tenant, and bankruptcy. Also
present, members of MABA Mexico’s
Guadalajara Chapter provided consultations
related to Mexican law.
One-on-one consultations took place in
BGHS’s cafeteria and in their state-of-the art
library. Given the importance of immigration
issues to our community, this year the
committee decided to organize an
immigration workshop as part of the Legal
Fair. The workshop was held at the school’s
auditorium. The panel members were
outstanding in their presentations to about
150 audience members.
This year’s legal fair was successful for many
reasons: Aside from the Legal Fair
committee’s hard work, we also had the
support of the Montebello Unified School
District (that oversees BGHS) and the
incredible support of BGHS’s principal Juan
Herrera, and vice-principal David
Hernandez. These individuals opened
BGHS’s door to MABA because they share
the values of service and giving back to the
www.mabaattorneys.com
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MABA
Calendar of Events
September 18, 2013
Seminar: Judicial Appointment
Process MCLE- MABA & Langston
September 26, 2013
Fall Mixer
October 2013
MABA Immigration MCLE
October 17, 2013
Annual Judges Night &
Awards Dinner
October 2013
Deadline for 2014 Board Candidacy
Intent & Statements
November 9-16, 2013
MABA Trip to Cuba
November 2013
MABA Elections for 2014 Board
...working
together
with MABA.
Proudly Housing MABA’s Main Office.
Mexican American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
714 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 450
Los Angeles, CA 90015