Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey

For Immediate Release: May 6, 2010

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ) is outraged by the State of Arizona’s recently enacted law, which permits the indiscriminate stopping/questioning of individuals to ascertain their immigration status. In response, the HBA-NJ joins the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and other national, state, and local organizations in calling for an economic boycott, including a boycott of conferences and conventions scheduled to take place in Arizona.The HBA-NJ calls upon the American Bar Association (ABA), state and local bar associations, legal defense funds, civil rights groups and all other grassroots organizations across the Country to join in on a national boycott of Arizona. This would discourage other States that are contemplating following Arizona’s lead.

Arizona’s Immigration Law (SB 1070) expands the law of trespass in the State and creates the legal premise necessary to indiscriminately stop and question individuals about their immigration status. This law is one of the most intrusive state initiatives seeking to usurp federal power in the area of immigration and it is fundamentally un-American in its requirement that individuals carry proof of citizenship to avoid detention.

Miguel Alexander Pozo, HBA-NJ President, explained that “in our view, the State of Arizona has embarked upon a path of deputizing its State and local law enforcement personnel to enforce federal immigration law in a way that would target the State’s residents and visitors for unlawful racial profiling.” Mr. Pozo further stated that “the persons who will be subject to the worst features of this unfettered discretion are those who are of Hispanic descent.”

The HBA-NJ joins organizations including the National Council of La Raza, the HNBA, Asian American Justice Center, the Center for Community Change, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the National Puerto Rican Coalition, the Service Employees International Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, to name a few, in calling for a boycott of all conferences and conventions to the State of Arizona.

Separately, the HBA-NJ has called upon the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), the oldest and largest bar association in New Jersey, to consider moving its mid-year convention, currently scheduled to take place in Scottsdale, Arizona from November 2-7, 2010, to another venue outside of Arizona.

In a letter to the NJSBA, Mr. Pozo stressed that, “similar economic measures forced Arizona to reverse its stance against recognizing the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, years ago.” The lessons of that successful boycott could serve as an example today.

The HBA-NJ also urges President Barack Obama and the Congress to pass comprehensive immigration legislation to resolve this issue finally, so that the Federal government preempts States, like Arizona, from engaging in further discriminatory and divisive actions that threaten to destroy the fabric of our great Nation.

State Rep. Steve Drazkowski introduced legislation today modeled on Arizona’s controversial law aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. The Wabasha Republican argues that the proposal, which would require immigrants to carry “alien identification cards” and create a “Minnesota Illegal Immigration Enforcement Team,” is common sense.

“We have an illegal immigration problem here in Minnesota,” Drazkowski says. “We’ve had it for years. We’ve tried as Republicans to bring some reforms to immigration policy in Minnesota. We’ve run into roadblocks each and every time.”

The Arizona legislation has been criticized by civil liberties advocates and others because they believe it will be used by law-enforcement agencies to unfairly target minorities. Various organizations, including La Raza, the country’s largest Hispanic civil rights group, have called for boycotts of the state.

Drazkowski acknowledges that the bill’s prospects of passing the DFL- controlled legislature this session are pretty much non-existent. It’s co- sponsored by five other House Republicans. But he believes introducing it now makes sense so that legislators can review the proposal and suggest changes.

“I’m confident that we’re going to have a different legislature next year,” Drazkowski says. “I’m hopeful that that legislature will be much more receptive to helping us follow our federal immigration law, which is exactly what this bill would do.”

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2010

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ) applauds Governor Corzine’s judicial nominations of Alberto Rivas and Esther Suarez to the New Jersey Superior Court.  Both candidates have now been confirmed by the senate.

Alberto Rivas, nominated to the position of Superior Court Judge in Middlesex County, is a partner at Lite DePalma Greenberg & Rivas, LLC and is a former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.  Mr. Rivas has also served as Law Director for the City of Perth Amboy and as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University School of Law.  A well respected member of the legal profession, he has also appeared frequently as a commentator on Court TV.

Mr. Rivas has served on various Court committees, including the Lawyers Advisory Committees for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.  He was also appointed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Task Force on Equal Treatment in the Courts, Race and Ethnicity Commission.  Mr. Rivas is a past chairman of the District VA Fee Arbitration Committee.  He is also a past president of the Rutgers University School of Law-Newark Alumni Association.

Mr. Rivas began his career as a judicial law clerk for Judge Anne E. Thompson of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1985 to 1987.  In 1985 Mr. Rivas earned a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law and in 1982 he earned a Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.

Esther Suarez, nominated to the position of Superior Court Judge in Passaic County, is the Director of the Law Department County Counsel in the County of Bergen.  In that capacity, Ms. Suarez provides legal counsel to the Bergen County Executive, eight county departments and 52 divisions, including the county police department, sheriff’s office and prosecutor’s office.  Ms. Suarez has also served as Corporation counsel for the city of Hoboken, as legal counsel to the Union City Housing Authority and as an associate lawyer with the Firm Scarinci & Hollenbeck.  Ms. Suarez is the vice chair of the Board of Trustees at Ramapo College.

In 1997, Ms. Suarez earned a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, Douglass College.  Ms Suarez is affiliated with the Bergen County Bar Association, the Rutgers Uiversity Board of Governors, the Eagleton Institute Undergraduate Associates Program and is president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Hudson County Bar Association.

Miguel Alexander Pozo, HBA-NJ President, praised the Governor’s selection of these nominees and the Governor’s continued recognition of the wealth of legal talent within the Hispanic legal community.  Mr. Pozo stated that, “Mr. Rivas and Ms. Suarez, posess varied legal experience that makes them well suited to make significant contributions to the excellence for which the New Jersey state court bench is known.”  The HBA-NJ extends its thanks to the Governor and its most sincere congratulations to the judicial nominees, Mr. Rivas and Ms. Suarez, both HBA-NJ members.

The HBA-NJ also congratulates the Honorable Lourdes Santiago, J.S.c., who sits in the Family Division, Hudson County Vicinage, on having received tenure earlier this month.  Judge Santiago is also a past president of the HBA-NJ.

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, founded in 1980, is a 501(c)(6) statewide organization that represents attorneys, judges, law professors and law students who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.  The purpose of the organization is to serve the public interest by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.  The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey cooperates with other bar organizations, with other legal organizations and with other Hispanic community, business, civic, charitable and cultural organizations in furtherance of the aforementioned purposes.

For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.njhba.org.

For press inquiries, please contact Nuris E. Portuondo, Esq., Press Secretary at NPortuondo@ssecz.com or (973)301-001 ext. 207 and Miguel Pozo, Esq., President at mpozo@lowenstein.com or (973) 597-6212.

For Immediate Release:  January 14, 2010

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ) has been at the forefront of recent immigration reform efforts in New Jersey and is pleased to renew its call for comprehensive immigration reform following the implementation of a key recommendation of Governor Jon Corzine’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy (the “Panel”).

On January 12, 2010, Governor Corzine signed an Executive Order establishing the Commission on New Americans (the “Commission”).  The Commission will oversee interdepartmental collaboration regarding immigrant integration policies in the State of New Jersey.  Some of the responsibilities of the Commission will include advising the Governor on how best to achieve immigrant integration in the delivery of government services, developing a strategy for the implementation of those recommendations and creating a resource guide to support the approximately 1.8 million immigrants seeking to use government resources.  Equally important, the Commission’s mandate will include monitoring the implementation of recommendations made by the Panel.  Juan Cartagena, Esq., the HBA-NJ’s contributions to the Panel’s work included advocating for reform in the areas of law enforcement and court policies affecting immigrant communities in the state.  Frank Argote-Freyre of Freehold will serve as the Commission’s Chair and the HBA-NJ looks forward to working with him.

Miguel Alexander Pozo, HBA-NJ President, applauded the announcement saying, “the establishment of the Commission is a good first step towards achieving the comprehensive immigration reform recommended by the Panel.  Still, more remains to be done, especially with regard to the nineteen other recommendations of the Panel that have not been implemented.  The HBA-NJ stands ready to assist the Commission to implement its mandate.”  Mr. Pozo also emphasized the HBA-NJ’s commitment to immigration reform advocacy by saying that, “the HBA-NJ looks forward to working with the incoming administration and Governor Elect Christopher Christie, and to discussing the goals of the new Governor on this issue.”

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, founded in 1980, is a 501(c)(6) statewide organization that represents attorneys, judges, law professors and law students who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.  The purpose of the organization is to serve the public interest by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.  The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey cooperates with other bar organizations, with other legal organizations and with other Hispanic community, business, civic, charitable and cultural organizations in furtherance of the aforementioned purposes.

For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.njhba.org.

For press inquiries, please contact Nuris E. Portuondo, Esq., Press Secretary at NPortuondo@ssecz.com or (973)301-001 ext. 207 and Miguel Pozo, Esq., President at mpozo@lowenstein.com or (973) 597-6212.

For Immediate Release: January 5, 2010

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ) congratulates our friend and fellow board member, Michael J. Plata, Esq., on his achievement as the first Hispanic lawyer elected to partner at the LeClairRyan law firm, effective January 1, 2010.

Mr. Plata works in the Firm’s Litigation Group and focuses his practice on environmental, hazardous waste, complex commercial and employment litigation.   

Prior to joining LeClairRyan, Mr. Plata served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable John E. Wallace, Jr., Associate Justice, Supreme Court of New Jersey.  He was also a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ariel A. Rodriguez, Judge, Appellate Division, Superior Court of New Jersey. 

Mr. Plata obtained his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law in 2002 and his B.S. in Political Science, with honors, and Criminology, magna cum laude, from Florida State University in 1998.

Miguel Alexander Pozo, HBA-NJ President, applauded Michael’s achievement saying, “Michael is smart and a talented lawyer.  We also consider him a valuable asset to the HBA-NJ team.  He is thoughtful, engaged, and an outspoken leader.  We and LeClairRyan are fortunate to have him.” 

LeClairRyan, a firm founded in 1988, has 21 offices across the country and over 300 attorneys firmwide.  It is an entrepreneurial law firm that provides business counsel and client representation in matters of corporate law and high-stakes litigation.  Mr. Plata is based in LeClairRyan’s New Jersey office, which is located at One Riverfront Plaza, 1037 Raymond Boulevard, in Newark.

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, founded in 1980, is a 501 (c)(6) statewide Association that represents attorneys, judges, law professors and law students who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community. The purpose of the Association is to serve the public interest (i) by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, (ii) by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and (iii) by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.  The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey cooperates with other bar organizations, with other legal organizations and with other Hispanic community, business, civic, charitable and cultural organizations in furtherance of the aforementioned purposes. 

For press inquiries, please contact Nuris E. Portuondo, Esq., HBA-NJ Press Secretary, at NPortuondo@ssecz.com or (973) 301-0001 ext. 207. For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and/or upcoming events, please visit our website at www.njhba.org or contact Miguel Alexander Pozo, Esq., HBA-NJ President, at mpozo@lowenstein.com or (973) 597-6212.

For Immediate Release: December 23, 2009

Miguel Alexander Pozo, President of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, congratulates the Young Lawyers Division (”YLD”) of the HBA-NJ in its community outreach and philanthropic efforts.

The YLD of the HBA-NJ recently hosted a cocktail party and charity fundraiser at Lua Restaurant & Lounge in Hoboken.  The event drew a large crowd and served as a fundraiser for the Community Food Bankm of New Jersey.  Each attendee was asked to bring a new unwrapped toy and canned goods for donation.  The response was very positive demonstrating the spirit of giving in this holiday season.  Julia Lopez, Co-Chair for the YLD committee, echoed the sentiments of all present when she stated, “helping others is so much a part of the holiday spirit and organizing these charitable events has really become of one of the focal goals of the YLD.”  The HBA-NJ also wishes to thank and acknowledge the corporate sponsors that made the event possible, which included State Farm, Veritext, Transperfect and Lowenstein Sandler.

On December 19, 2009, representatives of the YLD of the HBA-NJ delivered the donated items and also volunteered at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside.  They assisted as warehouse volunteers, helped in the thrift shop, and assembled fundraising mailings.  When asked about the community service, Melinda Colon, Co-Chair for the YLD, said: “It’s great to see YLD members get into the spirit of the holidays by giving back to the local community.  It’s what the YLD and HBA-NJ are all about.”

Mr. Pozo stated that “the dedication of these young individuals is a testament to the legacy of the legal profession, which at its core, represents service and giving.”  Congratulations to the YLD of the HBA-NJ on this fantastic achievement.

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, founded in 1980, is a 501(c)(6) statewide organization that represents attorneys, judges, law professors and law students who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.  The purpose of the organization is to serve the public interest by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.  The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey cooperates with other bar organizations, with other legal organizations and with other Hispanic community, business, civic, charitable and cultural organizations in furtherance of the aforementioned purposes.

For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.njhba.org.

For press inquiries, please contact Nuris E. Portuondo, Esq., Press Secretary at NPortuondo@ssecz.com or (973)301-001 ext. 207 and Miguel Pozo, Esq., President at mpozo@lowenstein.com or (973) 597-6212.

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey Young Lawyers Division invites you to mix and mingle at its
1ST ANNUAL HOLIDAY COCKTAIL PARTY AND CHARITY FUNDRAISER

Thursday - Sunday, April 15-18 (3 nights) $900 per person, double occupancy
Wednesday - Sunday, April 14-18 (4 nights) $1000 per person, double occupancy
Sunday- Sunday, April 11-18 (7 nights) $1300 per person, double occupancy

Click here for full details…

The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ) is deeply concerned about New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram’s Directive Number 2007-3, which directs law enforcement officers to inquire of all individuals arrested and charged with indictable offenses and driving under the influence (DUI) about their citizenship.

Congratulations! The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey has been selected to receive an award as the HNBA’s Affiliate Organization of the Year. The HBA-NJ was nominated and chosen by the Convention Committee and ratified by the Executive Committee of the HNBA. The award will be presented on Friday, October 5th, during the Awards Breakfast at the Annual Convention in San Juan. Click here for more details on joining the HNBA for a discounted rate.