History

A History of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association

By Dan Sosa, Jr. (Retired Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court)

In 1978, I was approached by Judge Steve Herrera, of the First Judicial District Court, and attorney Eddie Benavidez. Ed had replaced me on the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Executive Board. At the time I was serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  The two asked me to help create an Hispanic bar association. The purpose of the association was two-fold. First, to recognize outstanding Hispanic attorneys and second, in light of the unique challenges facing Hispanic attorneys, to provide assistance to Hispanic attorneys in their practice.  

In order to organize the association, we invited attorneys to a luncheon in Santa Fe. About ten interested attorneys turned out. From this group we formed the NMHBA. Later that same year the American Bar Association held its annual meeting in Albuquerque. United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy attended the ABA convention. As Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, I was escorted Justice Kennedy around. The NMHBA convened a meeting at the ABA convention and I made sure Justice Kennedy was in attendance. Justice Kennedy’s presence generated a great deal of excitement and interest in the NMHBA and membership rapidly grew.

In the years following the formation of the NMHBA, I received a good deal of credit for its creation. In fact, the credit belongs entirely to Judge Steve Herrera and Eddie Benavidez. It was they who saw the need for the Association and they who did the hard work of organizing it. Both of these men were visionaries who were taken from us too soon. I’m sure they would be very proud to see how the Association they started developed and prospered from its humble beginnings.

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Past Officers

2011-2012 Executive Board 

President - Antonia Roybal-Mack / Rebecca L. Avitia
Vice President - Vanessa Chavez / Christina Vigil
Secretary - Rebecca L. Avitia / Carlos Pacheco
Treasurer - Robert Lara / Damian Lara
Exec. Committee Member - Roxie De Santiago
Exec. Committee Member - Carlos Pacheco / Stefan Chacon
Past President - Christina Vigil / Antonia Roybal-Mack

2010-2011 Executive Board

President - Antonia Roybal-Mack
Vice President - Christina Anaya
Secretary - Mary T. Torres
Treasurer- Robert Lara
Exec. Committee Member - Roxie De Santiago
Exec. Committee Member - Vanessa Chavez
Past President - Christina Vigil

2009-2010 Executive Board

President - Christina A. Vigil
Vice President - Frank Baca
Secretary - Mary T. Torres
Treasurer- Antonia Roybal-Mack
Exec. Committee Member - Roxie De Santiago
Exec. Committee Member - Christina Anaya
Past President - Morris "Mo" Chavez

2008-2009 Executive Board

President Morris "Mo" Chavez
Vice President Laura E. Sanchez
Secretary Denise M. Chanez
Treasurer- Antonia Roybal-Mack
Exec. Committee Member Roxie De Santiago
Exec. Committee Member Robynn Sena
Past President Frank Baca

2007-2008 Executive Board

Frank Baca, President
Ernestina Cruz, Vice-President
Robynn Sena, Secretary
Laura E. Sanchez, Treasurer
Roxanna Chacon, Executive Committee Member
Morris "Mo" Chavez, Executive Committee Member
Christina A. Vigil, Executive Committee Member

2006-2007 Executive Board

Frank Baca, President
LaDonna Giron, Vice-President
Ernestina Cruz, Secretary
Raul Torrez, Treasurer
Robynn Sena, Executive Committee MemberB Joseph Sapien, Executive Committee Member

2005-2006 Executive Board

Rosalie Fragoso, President
Frank Baca, Vice-President
Mary T. Torres, Secretary
Carla C. Lopez, Treasurer
Lori Martinez, Executive Committee Member
Phillip Sapien, Executive Committee Member and Immediate Past President

2004-2005 Executive Board

Phillip Sapien, President
Rosalie Fragoso, Vice-President
Ernestina Cruz, Secretary
Carla C. Lopez, Treasurer
Frank Baca, Executive Committee Member
Brian S. Colón, Executive Committee Member

2003-2004 Executive Board

Phillip Sapien, President
Charles V. "Chuck" Garcia, Vice-President
Rosalie Fragoso, Secretary
Carla C. Lopez, Treasurer
Victor E. Valdez, Executive Committee Member and Immediate Past President
Antonio "Moe" Maestas, Executive Committee Member
Ernestina R. Cruz, Executive Committee Member (Filling the remaining term of Victor Valdez)