President's Message

As President of La Raza Lawyers Association of Sacramento for 2009, I am looking forward to working with our Board and membership to continue to build upon what we have accomplished in 2008. I am fortunate to welcome back to our Board Jose Borrego as Vice President and Alberto Roldan as our Secretary. Noel Calvillo is a new officer and will serve as our Treasurer. Noel also has the important duty of coordinating our La Raza Lawyers’ Mentorship Program with the law students at our various law schools.

2008 presented La Raza Lawyers with a number of challenges, but with the help of my Board and our membership, we turned those challenges into successes. La Raza Lawyers tripled its membership and established an up to date La Raza Directory with a new logo and design thanks to Jose Borrego. I am especially proud that La Raza Lawyers renewed its commitment to mentoring ‘La Raza’ law students at our various law schools in the greater Sacramento and Davis’ areas. This was accomplished because of the hard work and dedication of Rosemarie Ruggieri. The year culminated with La Raza Lawyer’s becoming an affiliate with the Hispanic National Bar Association. La Raza also continues to support our brothers and sisters at Wiley Manuel (Fusion Bar) and the Asian Bar Association (Wine Tasting and Fall Golf Tournament) as well as the National Asian Pacific Bar Association.

La Raza Lawyers began the year with our installation luncheon held at Zocalos. Judge Emily Vasquez swore in the new board and Judge David De Alba was our honored guest speaker. The seating was tight as over 60 people attended including a giant in the legal community – retired Justice Cruz Reynoso. Justice Reynoso spoke briefly about another legal giant – Dr. Mario Obledo. Dr. Obledo was slated to attend our luncheon, but at the last minute had a conflict and could not make it. Both of these men received our country’s highest civilian award—the Medal of Freedom—from President Bill Clinton.

In March, La Raza Lawyers partnered with Women Lawyers of Sacramento to honor Cesar Chavez at a luncheon held at the Firehouse Restaurant. David Villarino, Director of FIELD was the guest speaker and he talked about his work with Cesar Chavez and Cesar’s legacy. We also held our first mentor/mentee mixer hosted by Union Bank. The turnout for both events were superb and we look forward to holding more mixers and events in the future.

In April, La Raza Lawyers helped with the Pacific McGeorge Law School’s “International Street Law” program. La Raza Lawyers Arnulfo Hernandez and Augustine “AJ” Jimenez volunteered their time to help both the law students and high school students in the program. This project was led by La Raza Lawyer’s member and Pacific McGeorge Law Professor Fred Galves.

This year, as we move forward with this website, and organizing mixers, supporting MCLE programs, the Unity Bar dinner and other La Raza events, we will be creating the first ever 501(c)(3) La Raza Bar Foundation to assist us in fundraising, scholarship awards and supporting worthy causes in the Latino Community. Finally, while La Raza Lawyers will continue its presence on the Sacramento County Bar Association, the Unity Bar Association, Operation Protect and Defend and supporting the various law student organizations and events in 2009, it is important that we not lose sight of, and recognize, those giants in our community whose shoulders we stand on today. Pioneers like Dr. Mario G. Obledo, Justice Cruz Reynoso and the late Judge Lorenzo Patiño are but a few ‘trail blazers’ whose legacies we should honor. More to follow on those notes…until then Que te vaya bien.

Michael Terhorst, President