2014 Law Day Banquet & Scholarship Fund Raiser Held May 5th

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys celebrated its 2014 Law Day Banquet and Scholarship Fund Raiser on Monday, May 5, 2014, at the San Felipe Country Club in Del Rio, Texas, awarding 13 scholarships to area high school graduating seniors, swearing-in its new Officers, presented the Lawyer of the Year Award, and enjoyed Judge Rebecca Simmons’ keynote speech.

The highlight of the banquet was the presentation of the Lawyer of the Year Award to Eagle Passan Joseph Cordova, Supervisory Federal Public Defender of the U. S. Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, in Del Rio, Texas. U. S. Magistrate Judge
Victor Roberto Garcia for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, presented Cordova the Lawyer of the Year Award.

U. S. District Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, swore-in the new officers of The Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys, including Reginald Van Wade of Del Rio as President, Sylvia Cavazos of San Antonio as President-Elect, Edgar Juarez of Eagle Pass as Secretary, U. S. Magistrate Judge Victor Roberto Garcia as Treasurer, and Chris Blanton of Del Rio as Past-President.

Scholarship Committee Chairman Javier Riojas announced the 13 recipients of a $500 scholarship from the association to area high school graduating seniors, including Luis G. De Luna of Eagle Pass High School, Brianna C. Elizondo of Eagle Pass High School, Herminia J. Cruz of C. C. Winn High School, Gabriela Rangel of C. C. Winn High School, Briana R. Barrientez of Del Rio High School, Ryan B. Hill of Del Rio High School, Laura L. Kneeskern of Del Rio High School, Oscar Balderas, III of Crystal City High School, Zachary S. Bordovsky of Uvalde High School, Nataly C. Hernandez of Uvalde High School, Grayson G. Graham of Rocksprings High School, Celeste C. Navarro of Sabinal High School, and Shelby D. Schuster of Brackettville High School.

Honorable Rebecca Simmons, former Texas Fourth Court of Appeals Justice and current Associate Counsel of Kinetic Concepts, Inc., presented an eloquent keynote speech on the importance of peacemakers and the rule of law.

Also attending the Law Day Banquet was U. S. Magistrate Judge Collis White for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, and Texas Fourth Court of Appeals Justice Sandee Byron Marion.