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.

Los Abogados Named 2009-2010 HNBA Affiliate Organization of the Year

Los Abogados is proud to announce that it has been selected as the 2009-2010 Affiliate Organization of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association. Los Abogados received this award as a result of its extensive efforts to educate the public, media, and Arizona legal community concerning the general harmful effects of local anti-immigrant measures and practices aimed at undocumented immigrants, the vast majority of whom are Hispanic in Arizona. Efforts undertaken by Los Abogados received coverage in the international media and resulted in positive changes in practices by the local media, Arizona's court system, and the federal government. Los Abogados thanks all organizations that continue to assist in this effort as well as the HNBA for this tremendous recognition.



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	vhg231@alltel.blackberry.com
Civil Rights
Antonio D. Bustamante	antonio_b@qwestoffice.net
Comedy Show
Monica Ryden	mryden@fclaw.com
Endowment and Scholarships
Gaetano Testini	gtestini@wmtlegal.com
Golf Tournament
X. Alex Carpio	alex@snowcarpio.com
Legislative
Martín J. Quezada	mquezadalaw@gmail.com
Membership
Nicole Siqueiros	nicole.siqueiros@gmail.com
Strategic Planning
Salvador Ongaro	salongaro@yahoo.com

September 23rd, 2010 11:45 am

SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON: 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Save the date! Program to be announced.

October 2nd, 2010 6:30 am

11th ANNUAL LOS ABOGADOS VALDEMAR CORDOVA GOLF TOURNAMENT: Registration and driving range open at 6:30 a.m. The Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association’s 11th Annual Los Abogados Valdemar Cordova Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Once again, we will be holding the event at the Legacy Golf Resort with a shotgun start at 7:30 am. The Annual Golf Tournament, like many of our other events, has always been popular with Los Abogados members and supporters, who enjoy this opportunity to socialize while aiding a good cause. In addition, this golf outing is one of the greatest sources of funding for the Valdemar Cordova Scholarship Program. Tickets are $150 for members and $175 for non-members and include green fees, cart, lunch, a golf shirt, and various other extras. Silent auction and raffle prizes will also be available. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or the tournament, contact Alex Carpio at alex@snowcarpio.com. RSVPS MADE BELOW MUST BE ABLE TO BE CONFIRMED BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT YOU MAY BE REACHED BEFOREHAND.

RSVP

October 28th, 2010 11:45 am

OCTOBER LUNCHEON: 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Save the date! Program to be announced.

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	Read January's newsletter here.

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President
Salvador Ongaro

Vice President
Gaetano Testini

Recording Secretary
Margarita Silva

Treasurer
Marian Zapata-Rossa

Communications Director
Jessica S. Sanchez

Directors
Lizzette Alameda Zubey
Silvia Arellano
Antonio Bustamante
X. Alex Carpio
Gregorio M. Garcia
Erica R. Gonzalez-Melendez
Virginia Herrera-Gonzales
Claudia P. López
Jorge Lozano
Martín J. Quezada
Nicole Siqueiros