USDA General Counsel Delivers Keynote Address at 2012 Patiño Banquet

The UC Davis La Raza Law Students Association (LRLSA) held its 30th annual Lorenzo Patiño Banquet at the Sacramento Masonic Temple on March 31.  U.S. Department of Agriculture General Counsel Ramona Romero served as the keynote speaker; Sacramento Superior Court Judge David De Alba was the event emcee.

Romero, who immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 12 and went on to attend Columbia University and Harvard Law School, delivered inspiring remarks about her path to becoming USDA General Counsel.  She spoke about how she grew up on food stamps in New York and is now General Counsel of the agency that administers the food stamp program.  Romero also spoke about the need for more diversity in universities and law schools.

LRLSA honored Immigration Law Clinic Director Amagda Pérez ‘91 with the Alumni of the Year Award.  Legal Research and Writing Director Clay Tanaka was honored with the Professor of the Year Award.  Dean Kevin R. Johnson presented Jennifer Gomez ’12 with the Patiño Award, which is given to a student who exemplifies extraordinary service and dedication to the Latino community and the legal community at large.

The annual banquet honors the late Lorenzo Patiño ’73, a highly respected jurist who was one of the first Mexican-Americans appointed to the Municipal Court of Sacramento.

 

Primary Category

Tags