Los Abogados is Arizona's Hispanic Bar Association.

Los Abogados was founded in 1976 and subsequently incorporated in 1988. Members of Los Abogados include private and public attorneys, judges, businesspeople, paralegals, and law students. Members practice throughout Arizona and presently serve as officers and directors of several county, state, and federal bar associations.

Los Abogados is an affiliated member of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA).

Mission Statement

The primary purposes of Los Abogados are

• to enhance the quality of legal services provided to the community;

• to educate the Hispanic community regarding its rights and remedies and the availability of legal services;

• to receive and administer funds for the promotion and advancement of the Hispanic legal profession within the State of Arizona;

• to aid in gathering, exchanging, and disseminating facts and information relating to the business methods within the Hispanic legal profession; and

all with a view of promoting the business of the Hispanic legal profession within the State of Arizona.

Endowment and Scholarships

Los Abogados established the Valdemar Cordova Scholarship in cooperation with the Arizona State University College of Law and the University of Arizona College of Law in 1986. The scholarships are named in honor of the late Hon. Valdemar A. Cordova, who was the first Hispanic federal judge in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. The scholarships are awarded to law students who demonstrate a commitment to service to the Hispanic community.

Los Abogados has created the Los Abogados Endowment Fund to permanently endow the Valdemar Cordova Scholarship program. All members are encouraged to participate in the Endowment Fund by pledging funds for donation over a period of several years.


Diversity of Judiciary

In 1992, Los Abogados led the effort to amend the Arizona constitution to provide for diversity in the merit selection of judges. The constitutional amendment commonly known as Proposition 109 provided for racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity in the membership of trial and appellate court appointment commissions. Proposition 109 also amended the constitution to include diversity as consideration in the selection of judicial candidates.

Proposition 109 has resulted in the increased nomination of minorities and women as judges. In fact, rarely is a list of judicial candidates submitted to Arizona's governor that does not include women or minority candidates. Since the passage of Proposition 109 the number of Hispanic state judges has more than doubled.


Litigation Fund

Los Abogados has established a fund to support litigation involving issues affecting the Hispanic community.

By joining a committee, members can network with other members, meet people with similar interests, and help improve the communities that we serve. A list of Los Abogados committees, chairs, and contact information is below. If you are interested in joining a committee, please contact the chair(s) directly.

Appointments
Virginia Herrera-Gonzales	virginia.gonzales@azag.gov
Civil Rights
Antonio D. Bustamante	antonio_b@qwestoffice.net
Comedy Show
Monica Ryden	mryden@fclaw.com
Endowment and Scholarships
Gaetano (Guy) Testini	gtestini@wmtlegal.com
Golf Tournament
Ted Mariscal	ted.mariscal@phoenix.gov
Legislative
Juan Pablo G. Zaragoza	jpzaragoza@bskarizonalaw.com
Membership
Marian Zapata-Rossa	mzapata@quarles.com
Strategic Planning
Salvador Ongaro	salongaro@yahoo.com

September 24th, 2009 11:45 am

SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON: Thursday, 9/24 Save the date! Speaker and topic to be announced.

October 22nd, 2009 11:45 am

OCTOBER LUNCHEON: Thursday, 10/22 Save the date! Speaker and topic to be announced.

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	Read January's newsletter here.

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President
Salvador Ongaro

Recording Secretary
Margarita Silva

Treasurer
Erica R. Gonzalez-Melendez

Newsletter Editor
Jessica S. Sanchez

Immediate Past President
Lizzette Alameda Zubey

Directors
Michael Breeze
Antonio Bustamante
Gregorio M. Garcia
Virginia Herrera-Gonzales
Ted Mariscal
Alex Navidad
Daniel R. Ortega, Jr.
Gaetano (Guy) Testini
Israel G. Torres
Marian Zapata-Rossa
Juan Pablo G. Zaragoza