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.
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. Mari Carmen Aponte served as the organization’s first female president from 1983 to 1984. The organization's name was changed to Hispanic National Bar Association and it was reincorporated in the District of Columbia in 1984."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.
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.
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'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 (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.Ortiz, Erik. "Trump University Case: Who Is Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel?", NBC News (June 2, 2016).
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, 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 Irene Oria, 2019–2020 Elia Diaz-Yaeger, 2020–2021
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