PRESS RELEASE – TASK FORCE ON THE JUDICIARY

PRBA TASK FORCE ON THE JUDICIARY

A CALL FOR ACTION

New York, New York – The Puerto Rican Bar Association has organized a Task Force on the Judiciary to examine the lack of representation of Puerto Ricans and Latinos on the bench. The PRBA Calls For Action to ensure that there is TRUE Diversity and Inclusion in the Judiciary and the Judicial Selection Process in New York State.  

The Puerto Rican Bar Association –  Task Force on the Judiciary – will examine, inspect and evaluate the lack of Puerto Ricans and Latinos on the bench in New York State.  We are outraged that for the past two (2) years there have not been any candidates of Puerto Rican and/or Latino background that have come out of the Judicial Committees from the Manhattan, Kings, Queens and Staten Island.  Puerto Ricans and Latinos are not fairly represented in the New York Judiciary despite the large population of Puerto Rican and Latino communities in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The PRBA will hold public hearings to address the underrepresentation of Puerto Ricans and Hispanics on the bench.  Where necessary the PRBA will have monitors to review the process and request that the appropriate government agencies including the United States Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission review the disparity in the Judicial Selection process to determine if violations of Constitutional rights have resulted. The PRBA has fought difficult battles to ensure that there is diversity on the bench yet it appears that the need for “Diversity and Inclusion” is not being honored.  The process needs to be examined and evaluated due to the disparate impact that has resulted.

The Puerto Rican Bar Association also joins with all of the organizations who expressed their profound outrage to the failure of the New York County Democratic Committee Independent Judicial Screening Panel to approve Judge Doris Ling-Cohan for the New York Supreme Court.  Judge Ling-Cohan, the first Asian American Female Judge in New York and a longtime PRBA member.  The Puerto Rican Bar Association was founded in 1957 and is one of the oldest minority bar associations in New York. We will continue to endeavor to ensure that Puerto Ricans, and all Latinos, are adequately represented in the legal profession so that the Puerto Rican and Latino Communities will continue to have a voice regarding New York State laws and policies.

The Economy vs. Immigration: What Will Unlock the Latino Vote in 2012?

JOIN US!

The Economy vs. Immigration: What Will Unlock the Latino Vote in 2012?

A Panel Presented by Feet in Two Worlds, the Center for New York City Affairs, Global Studies at The New School, Americas Society/Council of the Americas, and Latino USA.

Latino voters are expected to play a pivotal role in the U.S. presidential election, especially in several key battleground states. Join us for a town hall event that brings together journalists, pollsters, and policy experts to explore the complex relationship between the Latino electorate and the candidates. Will economic concerns such as unemployment and housing foreclosures guide Latinos at the voting booth? Will the candidates’ immigration policies dominate? Or will large numbers of Latinos simply sit out this election? Understanding the political cross-currents buffeting Latinos today will provide valuable insight on the probable outcome of the election, as well as political and policy implications for the nation over the next four years.

Moderated by Latino USA executive producer and anchor Maria Hinojosa, the panel includes the New York Immigration Coalition’s executive director, Chung-Wha Hong. Please join us for a timely and compelling discussion focused on immigrants, immigration, and the 2012 elections.

Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #LatinoVote @thenyic and on our Facebook page.

When: Thursday, October 18th, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Registration: 5:30pm – 6:00pm
Event:
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where:
The New School
Theresa Lang Center
55 West 13th St

Admission is free. To reserve a seat, please click HERE

Panelists:

Maria Hinojosa, President and CEO, Futuro Media Group; Executive Producer and Anchor, Latino USA (moderator)
Fernand Amandi, Managing Partner, Bendixen & Amandi International
Jordan Fabian, Political Editor, Univisión News
Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition
Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center

Opening Remarks:

John Rudolph
Executive Producer, Feet in 2 Worlds

Jason Marczak
Director of Policy, AS/COA

In Partnership with:

The event will be webcast live and will form a segment on National Public Radio’s “Latino USA” program to be broadcast at a later date.