The San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (SDLRLA) announced its annual Judiciary Reception, which will focus this year on honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Judge Roy B. Cazares.
The reception will take place on Aug. 23 at 6:00 p.m, on the deck of the U.S.S. Midway Museum, with over over 300 lawyers, judges, and community leaders present to celebrate the trailblazers who have paved the way for progress within the legal field. With a history spanning 15 years, this year’s event will celebrate Cazares, a founding member of SDLRLA .
“Judge Cazares was present at the inception of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association and shared a vision of what our organization could become. We will forever cherish his pivotal role in our community’s progress.” said SDLRLA President Agustin Peña.
Cazares began his law career after graduating Harvard Law School in 1975, becoming the first Mexican-American from California to attend or graduate the university. He passed the California Bar Exam on his first try, and began working as a public defender. In 1982, Judge Roy B. Cazares was appointed to the Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown, where he served at the South Bay branch and stayed with the Superior Court until his retirement in 2000.
Cazares was also a founder of SDLRLA, a nonpartisan organization founded in 1976. The organization had its first meeting at the Pioneer Room of the San Diego County Public Law Library, before becoming an unincorporated association of approximately 12 attorneys. The organization was formed with a desire to effect change in San Diego by representing the interests of the Latino community, identifying issues which involved the Latino community, and advocating for those issues.
The reception will feature food, music, and a night of programs dedicated to the work and legacy of Cazares. Tickets are currently $40 for current members and $50 for future members.
