HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH NEWSLETTER FEATURED LATINO LEADERS Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto
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W I L L I A M S . B O Y D S C H O O L O F L A W / / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH NEWSLETTER FEATURED LATINO LEADERS Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto Federal Chief Judge Gloria Navarro State Senator Yvanna Cancela State Assemblyman Edgar Flores La Voz thanks these featured Dean Frank D. Durand, STANDING ON THE leaders for paving the way for William S. Boyd School of SHOULDERS OF future generations in the legal Law field. In the words of the GIANTS.... Honorable Chief Judge Navarro, Professor Sylvia Lazos, "It is important to be the first but This newsletter was inspired by William S. Boyd School of even more important to not be the the 2018 Hispanic National Bar Law last." Association (HNBA) Annual Convention. One of the main Professor Ruben Garcia, La Voz hopes this newsletter will themes of this year's HNBA serve to both honor Nevada's William S. Boyd School of convention was recognizing the Latino giants and inspire us all to Law legacy of Latino pioneers within continue to create a diverse and the legal profession. strong legal community in Marisa Rodriguez, La Voz would like to recognize and Nevada. To all aspiring legal Associate Attorney at honor Nevada's very own Latino professionals: ¡si se puede! (Yes, Weinberg Wheeler pioneers. La Voz interviewed you can!) Hudgins Gunn & Dial, LLC several of Nevada's top legal professionals to ask them about Mayra Salinas-Menjivar, their experiences as Latino Attorney at the UNLV pioneers. Immigration Clinic What inspired you to join the What has been your greatest legal profession? professional challenge? My parents inspired me to join the legal profession. Both my mother I have faced many challenges and father taught me the along my career, but the one I importance of giving back to my think we all need to face is fear. community and civic We must find the courage to engagement. work through our fears. When I was Attorney General, I took on Who were your legal mentors the important issue of sex and role models? trafficking. It was a big challenge to break up the sex SENATOR My parents were my first role trafficking rings throughout the models and mentors. When I state, but the key was getting CATHERINE began my legal career, I was a all the stakeholders to work CORTEZ-MASTO clerk for Judge Michael Wendell together. Together, we got right out of law school. He was a legislation passed to make sex Senator Cortez-Masto was born wonderful mentor. He was trafficking a crime at the state and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. respectful, impartial, and had level which enabled state and Her father was the head of the Las great judicial temperament. He local officials to work with Vegas Convention and Visitors was the epitome of what a judge federal prosecutors to attain Authority and later served as a should be. Later in my career, justice for sex trafficking Clark County Commissioner. Frankie Sue Del Papa, who was victims. Senator Cortez-Masto graduated the first woman elected as the from the University of Nevada, Nevada Attorney General, became Reno, with a degree in finance and one of my mentors and I after obtained her Juris Doctor eventually followed her footsteps degree from Gonzaga School of becoming Attorney General a few Law. Throughout her legal and years later. political career, the Senator clerked for Judge Michael J. Wendell, served as Assistant U.S. Attorney, Assistant County Manager for Clark County, Nevada Attorney General, and is now the first Latina U.S. Senator. What has been the best advice What inspired you to join the legal you’ve received? FEDERAL CHIEF profession? The best advice I ever received JUDGE GLORIA I joined the legal profession was from my father, who was a NAVARRO because helping others has always County Commissioner for sixteen Federal Chief Judge Gloria Maria been something that I liked to do years. He constantly reminded me Navarro is of Cuban descent and and felt comfortable doing. I was of the importance of being honest grew up in Las Vegas. She the first in my family born here in with all constituents. He told me attended the University of Nevada, the U.S. Adapting to American to honestly tell people my reasons Las Vegas for her Bachelor’s culture was very easy for me, but for for voting for or against a degree and Arizona State my family it wasn’t as easy. I helped particular issue. University for her Juris Doctor my family navigate American degree. In 2009, she was culture and life by interpreting for What are the biggest challenges nominated by President Obama to them when needed. I would read facing the Latino community? become a federal judge for the important legal letters, and often District of Nevada and a year later find solutions for adult problems at People often try to present the was unanimously confirmed by the a young age. Eventually, someone idea that the Latino community is U.S. Senate. In 2014, Judge told me I should go to law school different from the general Navarro became Chief Judge of and become an attorney. community, but the truth is that the Federal District of Nevada. Latinos care about the same Who were your legal mentors and issues all Americans care about. Chief Judge Navarro has always role models? They want a strong economy, been active in her community. She quality education, and affordable received several accolades for her To be honest, my mentors found healthcare. We currently live in an service including: Pro Bono Public me. I was always a teacher’s pet. I environment with strong anti- Lawyer of the Year and the Louis was always interested in learning immigrant sentiments, which Wiener Pro Bono Service Award. more so people offered me advice stem from this fear of the “other.” Additionally, the Chief Judge is a because they knew I was receptive This fear is based on inaccurate Past-President of the Latino Bar to it. Judge Phillip M. Pro and stereotypes and is dangerous to Association where she assisted La Franny Forsman, for example were our community. Voz to launch the Huellas great mentors. They were eager to mentorship program. Chief Judge help me. I was also involved in the Navarro explains, “I thought Latino Bar Association (LBA). Back Huellas was a great idea because then, the LBA was much smaller. everyone needs advice about what The LBA was a great opportunity for to do from people who have networking and finding emotional already done what you want to do. support. Huellas is all about people helping future generations overcome issues older generations have faced.” What has been your greatest What has been the best advice professional challenge? you’ve received? My greatest challenge has been Kevin Kelly from the now defunct balancing my family and my career. firm, Kelly & Sullivan, Ltd gave me Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the most the best advice right after a important career decision is who preliminary hearing I had when I you marry. I couldn’t agree more. was still a young attorney. The My husband has been my greatest judge who presided over that supporter. He encourages me. He preliminary hearing told me I was had a working mom so I think he good but that I needed to be has always understood how to help meaner, louder, and more a working wife balance her career indignant in court. and family. I was fortunate to get Kevin told me not to follow that STATE help from my mother and husband. advice. He told me that I don’t SENATOR My mother took care of our kids need to be fake to be a good and when either my husband, who attorney. Instead, he told me that YVANNA worked in private practice, or I had to have a long career, you must CANCELA long days we would find ways to build a good reputation. Your accommodate for one another. word is your word. You should State Senator Cancela is of Cuban never lie. If you suspect something descent and graduated from isn’t right, get to the bottom of it. Northwestern University with a degree in communication studies. What are the biggest challenges She moved to Las Vegas in 2010 to facing the Latino community? work as a field organizer for Senator Harry Reid’s re-election campaign. I think the challenges today are She then became the political different from what they were director at UNITE HERE’s Local 226, before. Before, the problem was the Culinary Workers Union; the more socioeconomic, but today state’s largest labor union. these issues are more political. In 2016, State Senator Cancela was Even so, I think that like all appointed to Nevada’s 10th State Americans, Latinos worry about Senate district seat and became the having access to a good education first Latina to ever serve in the and quality job training. Chamber. Additionally, State Senator Cancela is currently a student at the Boyd School of Law. What inspired you to join the How has your culture influenced After his admission to the legal profession? your perspective on the legal Nevada Bar, Assemblyman community? Flores worked for a local It wasn’t just one person. The immigration firm and later number of people I’ve met whose I am a Latina. I am rooted in opened his own firm with a lives were affected by the legal family, community, and fellow Boyd alum.