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HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION

ORANGE COUNTY


News

  • 27 Mar 2017 8:57 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Please see the news release with information regarding the 2016 Annual Report of the Collaborative Courts HERE, which sets forth the outstanding results of these programs in significantly reducing recidivism, saving resources, and changing lives. 


  • 21 Mar 2017 9:10 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Please click on the link below to access the Recruitment Notice for Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Trial Attorney Panel.

    http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/news/recruitment-notice-criminal-justice-act-cja-trial-attorney-panel

  • 21 Mar 2017 9:10 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    The United States District Court, Central District of California, is currently accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in serving as Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference Lawyer Representatives.  Please refer to the link below for more information. 

    https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/news/seeking-applications-ninth-circuit-judicial-conference-lawyer-representatives-1


  • 21 Mar 2017 8:32 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    A new proposal has been posted to the California Courts web site, at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm.

    SPR17-27 Criminal Procedure: Use of Risk/Needs Assessments at Sentencing (approve Cal. Standards of Judicial Administration, standard 4.35)

    The deadline for comment is 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 28, 2017.

    If you have any questions, please contact Benita Downs, at benita.downs@jud.ca.gov, or at 415-865-7957.


  • 12 Mar 2017 9:06 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    From left, Consul of Mexico Mario Cuevas Zamora and Eric Dominguez, president of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association, sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Santa Ana on Thursday, March 9, 2017. The MOU establishes a collaboration to protect the legal rights of the Mexican community in Orange County. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    From left, Consul of Mexico Mario Cuevas Zamora and Eric Dominguez, president of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association, sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Santa Ana on Thursday, March 9, 2017. The MOU establishes a collaboration to protect the legal rights of the Mexican community in Orange County. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    By JESSICA KWONG / STAFF WRITER, OC Register

    SANTA ANA – As President Donald Trump rolls out his immigration policies, the Consulate of Mexico in Santa Ana has responded by bolstering its services to Mexicans, the latest step of which is a formal alliance with a large network of Latino attorneys.

    Consul of Mexico Mario Cuevas Zamora and Eric Dominguez, president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County, on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding strengthening the relationship between the institutions and their capacity to provide free or low-cost counseling and legal representation.

    “Things are not easy for our community right now,” Cuevas said in Spanish during a press conference announcing the signing. “These are trying times that should not be wished on anyone, but we need to confront it and what better way than to form alliances.”

    The consulate and the bar association already had partnered on monthly immigration clinics and other services, but the memorandum will ensure Mexicans “regularly have access to attorneys as opposed to ad hoc,” whether on-site or over the phone, Dominguez said.

    In particular, the bar association is looking to provide legal consultation and representation to people who don’t qualify to be assigned to an attorney pro bono, but who also cannot afford to hire one, Dominguez said.

    Of the 360,000 Mexicans living in Orange County, about 200,000 are undocumented, according to the Migration Policy Institute, with immigration statuses that limit their access to quality legal services.

    Over the past two years, the consulate has provided 1,851 free legal consults and covered the costs of 307 cases, in collaboration with 12 local organizations. The memorandum will amplify programs the consulate has already developed with the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Catholic Charities of Orange County, among others.

    On March 3, the consulate, in conjunction with the 49 other Mexican consulates in the U.S., under order by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto launched drop-in immigration information booths and became “centers for legal defense.” The program encourages Mexicans who qualify for U.S. citizenship to pursue it for their protection. The consulate is at 2100 E. Fourth St.

    “These are extraordinary times,” Jazmin Castellanos, consul of protection, said. “We know that with lawyers, it’s best to have them at our side than against us.”

    While immigration services are in the highest demand, bar association lawyers also will be available to assist in civil and family cases.

    The agreement signed Thursday was months in the making.

    “This is just the beginning,” Cuevas said. “We’re ready to sit down and work on a map of how we can achieve our goals.”

    Contact the writer: 714-796-7762 or jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong

    http://www.ocregister.com/articles/consulate-746146-legal-association.html


  • 08 Mar 2017 8:44 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    What: The Consulate of Mexico, Orange County will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association which seeks to lay a foundation for collaboration between the two institutions in order to protect the legal rights of Mexican nationals living in Orange County.

    When: Thursday, March 9, 2017; 12:00 pm.

    Where: The Consulate of Mexico, Orange County (2100 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, CA, 92705).

    Who: The Consulate of Mexico, Orange County and the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association

    Data from the Migration Policy Institute states that approximately 200,000 immigrants face a barrier to access to free legal services due to their immigration status.  

    With this agreement, the Consulate and the OCHBA hope to strengthen their relationships with strategic partners and strengthen the capacity to deliver pro- and low-bono legal services in all areas of law, thus facilitating greater access to justice for the communities they represent.

    For Immediate Release

    Contact:  Media Liaison, Bao Nguyen, bao@baonguyen.us, 714-251-6885.

    OCHBA President, Eric Dominguez: edominguez@hirson.com, 949 383-5568


  • 02 Mar 2017 11:18 AM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Comments sought:

    Thirty-two (32) new proposals to amend the California Rules of Court, Judicial Council forms and legislation have been posted to the California Courts web site, at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm.

    The attached list provides a summary of the proposals and contains direct links to each individual proposal. You are welcome to distribute this to any other interested parties. The deadline for comment is 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 28, 2017.

    If you have any questions, please contact Benita Downs, at benita.downs@jud.ca.gov, or at 415-865-7957.



  • 21 Feb 2017 8:44 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)



    You're Invited to help Santa Ana high school students attend prom with self-confidence and in style!

    What: Donate your Dress

    When: On or Before April 3, 2017

    Where: Drop off your dress to 

    The Law Office of Carolina C. Gomez

    2112 East 4th Street, Suite 102

    Santa Ana, CA 92705 

    Contact: promdress@ochba.org


  • 02 Feb 2017 8:23 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Westminster, CA – The Superior Court of Orange County has opened a new call center to assist the public with services and information regarding criminal and traffic cases. Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese by calling 657-622-8459. An automated phone system is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and customer service representatives are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Court holidays. Since the center’s “soft launch” on January 11, representatives have assisted an average of 145 customers per day. 

    Due to severe budget cuts, the Court closed its prior call center in 2013 to redeploy staff to fill vacancies in more critical areas. Although the Court is still in a precarious financial situation, it was able to allocate funds to open a smaller center by maintaining a high employee vacancy rate and automating services. 

    The call center provides resources such as general criminal and traffic information, processing extensions on fines or traffic school enrollment, and reserving a date to appear in front of a judicial officer to enter a plea in response to charges. Also, callers may request to have automated reminders sent to their home or mobile phone with payment due dates and/or court hearing information. 

    Information and additional resources are also available online at www.occourts.org. For expedited service and information regarding individual criminal and traffic cases, the Court uses an “OC Pay Number” which is printed on the front of the violation information notice to the right of the citation number and on other Court-generated forms and notices. The “OC Pay Number” is used to access information specific to a particular case or citation online or via the automated phone system. 


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