Events Archive

The Hispanic Issues Section hosted a membership mixer and drive at Mesa Street Grill in El Paso, Texas on October 27, 2015. There was a tremendous turnout in support of the Hispanic Issues Section and MABA El Paso!  Manuel Escobar, Chair of HIS, and Oscar Lara, President of MABA El Paso, spoke about the importance of joining groups like ours to make a difference in our communities.

Thanks to everyone who attended and to all of our sponsors for their generosity and support.  Special thanks go out to our guest speakers, Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza and Judge Robert Anchondo.  Additional thanks go out to Rolando Morales and Carmen I. Perez (and her firm Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP) for coordinating such a wonderful event!

The Hispanic Issues Section and the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas hosted a joint Legislative Day on February 24, 2015 at the Texas Law Center. The Legislative Day included CLE updates in the morning, discussions from six Texas legislators in the afternoon, headed up by a lunchtime presentation by State Rep. Todd Hunter, and concluded with a thoughtful presentation from Bill Hammond with the Texas Association of Business on their association's legislative priorities this session.  Click here to see what you missed, and you can view pictures from the CLE below.

A big thanks to all of our speakers and attendees, and an especially big thanks to Angelica Hernandez, Joe Escobedo and Gloria Leal for organizing all of the presentations! The event was a great success!

The day's speakers:

• Justice Patricia O. Alvarez, Fourth Court of Appeals of Texas
• Judge Elsa Alcala, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
• Joe Escobedo, Escobedo & Cardenas LLP
• Ivan Ramirez, Law Office of Ramirez & Parenti PLLC
• Texas State Rep. Todd Hunter, District 32 (Corpus Christi)
• Texas State Rep. Alfonso "Poncho" Nevarez, District 74 (Eagle Pass)
• Texas State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, District 141 (Houston)
• Texas State Rep. R.D. "Bobby" Guerra, District 41 (McAllen)
• Texas State Rep. Armando Martinez, District 39 (Weslaco)
• Texas State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, District 29 (El Paso)
• Texas State Rep. Roberto Alonzo, District 104 (Dallas)
• Bill Hammond, Chief Executive Officer, Texas Association of Business

On Thursday, July 31, 2014, a CLE was held in Houston regarding the rights of unaccompanied minors crossing the border.  The CLE was a tremendous success, reaching its registration capacity well in advance of the CLE.  Hispanic Issues Section Chair Benny Agosto, Jr. was one of the speakers at the CLE, which was sponsored by the Harris County Attorney, Houston Community College, and numerous other local organizations and leaders.  Attendees were taken through a robust agenda in which they learned about the various agencies involved in the process and the relief potentially available to these individuals.  Bar associations from around the state participated, and State Bar President Trey Apffel was in attendance.  

The organizers of the CLE have made the CLE available for viewing online.  View the CLE here.

This humanitarian crisis will require a response from a wide variety of resources, including Texas attorneys.  The Hispanic Issues Section is committed to doing its part to assist in these efforts.  Please visit our resource page for more information.

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The Hispanic Issues Section celebrated Casino Night on April 24th and presented “A Survey of Texas Legal Updates” on April 25th in Austin as part of its Spring programming.  Both events were generously sponsored by a cross section of law firms (Escobedo, Tippet & Cardenas; Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson; McGinnis Lochridge), members of the judiciary (Hon. Eva M. Guzman, Hon. Patricia Alvarez, Hon. Gina Benavides, Hon. Debra Ibarra Mayfield, Hon. David M. Medina), organizations (Mexican American Bar Association of Texas) and HIS members (Benny Agosto, Carmen Perez, Arturo Aviles and Gloria Leal).

Hispanic Issues Section Casino Night

Casino Night was held at Rio Bar Austin. Fun was had by all. In addition to food, drinks and Casino games (blackjack, craps, roulette), prizes were awarded for the highest “winnings” (a Mini iPad, a HD Kindle and Best Buy Gift Card). Congruent with the HIS spirit of giving, drawings were also held for Starbucks Gift Cards. Special guests that evening included HIS chair Justice Patricia Alvarez (4th Court of Appeals) and Valley Justices Gina Benavides, Dorie Contreras Garza and Nora Longoria (13th Court of Appeals).  See the item below for pictures!

Hispanic Issues Section CLE

“A Survey of Texas Legal Updates” began with a powerful panel presentation by Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, 4th Court of Appeals Justice Patricia Alvarez and 13th Court of Appeals Justice Gina Benavides. Updates then were provided in the following areas including, among others, Expedited Trials and Paid or Incurred (HIS CLE Co-Chair Joe Escobedo), Criminal Law (Jack Strickland), Labor/Employment Law (Alfonso Kennard), Immigration Law (Yohana Saucedo) and Family Law (Leigh de la Reza). During lunch, the CLE attendees were treated to a Legislative Update Panel; the outstanding panel was moderated by former HIS chair Gloria Leal. Another treat was the wit of Claude Ducloux who discussed “The Ethics of Managing a Successful Law Office”. Participants of the CLE represented all sectors of the state (El Paso, Dallas, Houston, Austin and McAllen). HIS CLE Co-Chairs Joe Escobedo and Angelica M. Hernandez were appreciative of the opportunity to showcase HIS and anticipate more successful programming from the section in the future.

Some pictures from the CLE are immediately below.  Thanks to all who attended and made it a great event!  

Sponsor List

Thanks again to all of our wonderful sponsors:

• Escobedo, Tippet & Cardenas
• Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson
• McGinnis Lochridge
• Mexican American Bar Association of Texas
• Benny Agosto Jr.
• Gloria Leal
• Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney
• Honorable Patricia Alvarez
• Honorable Gina Benavides
• Honorable Eva M. Guzman
• Honorable Debra Ibarra Mayfield
• Honorable David M. Medina

The Mexican American Bar Association of Houston (“MABAH”) held its annual MABAH Gala on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Houston. Here are some pictures from the event: