Articles of Interest
Supreme Court allows California to grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants
The high court rejects an appeal to California's policy of giving in-state college tuition to state high school graduates who are in the country illegally. The action leaves in place laws in 11 other states that permit illegal immigrants to obtain in-state tuition.
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OCBA Hosts State Bar President Reception
On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, the Orange County Bar Association's leadership, including members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors as well as several Section and Committee Chairs and Affiliate Bar Presidents, gathered at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach for a reception honoring California State Bar President Bill Hebert and Executive Director Joe Dunn.
Photos from the event appear here >
U.S. Senate Confirms Jimmie V. Reyna, Esq. as Circuit Judge; First Latino to Serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Washington, D.C. – By a vote of 86-0, this afternoon the Senate confirmed President Obama’s nomination of Jimmie V. Reyna to serve as a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). Mr. Reyna will be the first Latino to serve on the CAFC. The CAFC has nationwide jurisdiction of appeals arising from federal district courts, the Court of International Trade, the U.S. Court of Claims, and a variety of agencies involving a number of subject matter areas, including international trade, government contracts, patents, trademarks, and certain money claims against the United States government. Mr. Reyna is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Williams Mullen. He is a Vice President on the firm’s board of directors and directs the firm’s International Trade and Customs Practice Group. Mr. Reyna is a former National President of the HNBA.
Latino lawyers denounce Costa Mesa, Arizona law
Published: May 26, 2010
By CINDY CARCAMO
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A group of local Latino attorneys has denounced Arizona's new immigration enforcement law, stating that it "encouraged municipalities, including the city of Costa Mesa, to malign undocumented immigrants while ignoring their contributions."
The Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County issued the declaration on Tuesday, stating that they were spurred into action after Costa Mesa council members adopted a resolution declaring their city a "Rule of Law City," unwelcoming to people who are in the country illegally.
"The Arizona law is dangerous because it tempts an irrational response that is detrimental to the Latino community," said Carlos Colorado, the association's president.
The resolution is just the latest in a long line of declarations made in support or against Arizona's immigration enforcement law.
Earlier this month, Santa Ana became the first city in the county to take up the issue and condemn the law, calling it misguided and unconstitutional.
Tuesday night, a councilwoman in Villa Park was unsuccessful in her attempt to pass a resolution in favor of the Arizona's law.
The law — SB1070 — makes it a crime to lack immigration papers in Arizona and requires police to ask for documentation of legal status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that the person they stopped is in the country illegally.
The law only takes place when someone is stopped on suspicion of violating another law. The law was also later amended to discourage racial profiling.
Still, Colorado said, the law to leaves it up to the interpretation of the officer as to what "reasonable suspicion" may be when determining whether the person is in the country illegally.
"Reasonable suspicion is one that usually is not defined in a legal system until it gets to a trial level where it will be questioned or challenged," Colorado said. "I think that is one of the major defects of the law. It does not provide a definition... that's what makes it prone to abuse."
Colorado, whose group has about 500 members, said the association comes short of declaring a boycott of the state but does call for a national comprehensive immigration overhaul.
He said the group felt "morally compelled" to make a statement because of what he said were local implications to Latinos who may be deterred from participating in the legal system out of fear or discrimination.
Who's Who in the OCBA — The Affiliate Bars
Judge Briseño honored by Hispanic Bar Association
Published: March 8, 2010
By RON GONZALES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The organization also installed its new officers for 2010, including President Carlos X. Colorado.
About 415 people attended the dinner at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim.
Besides honoring Briseño with the award, the association decided to name the lifetime achievement award for the judge, Colorado said.
"He is held in very high regard for his civility and humanity," Colorado said.
According to Judge Frederick P. Aguirre, Briseño is the longest serving Superior Court judge in the history of Orange County. Briseño was appointed in March 1977 to the Municipal Court bench, and was elevated in April 1979 to the Superior Court.
Along with Briseño, honorees included:
Bob Cohen of the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, attorney of the year.
Gladis Molina of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), for the Guardian de Justicia award.
The Walt Disney Company, for the corporate citizen award.
Other officers for 2010 included Genoveva Meza Talbott, president-elect; José González, vice president; Theresa C. López, secretary; Leo R. Paredes, treasurer. Monica E. Lukoschek is immediate past president.
Judge Frances Múñoz, the first Latina trial judge in the United States, according to the association, and now retired, installed the new officers.
The keynote speaker was U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, who appeared via video.
The association, with more than 150 paid members, is the largest and oldest ethnic-interest bar association in Orange County.
The association awarded Wally Davis Memorial Scholarships to Daisy Sanchez ($3,500, Stanford Law School), Brenda Montes ($3,500, UCLA School of Law), Joel Crespo ($3,500, Boston University School of Law), Elisa Briseño ($3,500, Chapman School of Law), and Flor de Maria Tataje ($2,300, UCI School of Law).
"These scholarships help even the playing field so that needy but deserving students from working class roots can have an opportunity to go to law school and I have never seen a more effective tool for empowerment in the legal community," said Colorado, of Jones Day in Irvine, in a prepared statement. Thirty-three of the 43 recipients have been women.
"Our scholarships are a crucial part of the HBA's contribution to social justice, as they are awarded to students who can demonstrate a commitment to public service," said Colorado, who immigrated from El Salvador as a child and is the association's first president of Salvadoran background. "Therefore, it is no surprise that five scholarship recipients have gone on to become public defenders; three others work for public agencies; and four more have come back to serve on the HBA board, including one who even rose to become HBA president."
Hispanic Bar Gala
Orange County Business Journal
"Hola El Salvador"
On March 6, 2010 OC HBA President Carlos X. Colorado appeared on CTN-TV's "Hola El Salvador" hosted by Antonio Ayala, broadcast on local channel 27, DISH network/DIRECTV channel 20, and a TV channel in El Salvador, discussing his role as the first Salvadoran president of the HBA.
