THE HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY CELEBRATES THE INSTALLATION OF JACQUELINE PEÑA AS ITS 44TH PRESIDENT AND THE SWEARING IN OF ITS 2023-2024 OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 14, 2023.
On November 1, 2023, the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (“HBA-NJ”) held its 44th Annual Installation and Swearing-In Ceremony of its Officers and Trustees at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston, New Jersey. Longtime member of the HBA-NJ and Past President, Anna María Tejada, a partner at Saul Ewing LLP, served as the mistress of ceremonies at the sold-out ceremony, which had 350+ guests in attendance, including, but not limited to, judges, lawyers, and students from numerous counties throughout the State.
The Honorable Michael Noriega, Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and longtime supporter of the HBA-NJ, swore in the Officers and Trustees. The Officers and Trustees were especially honored to be sworn in by Justice Noriega, currently, the only Hispanic Justice on the Court. The Honorable Jaclyn V. Medina, Judge of the Superior Court for Bergen County, and former executive board member of the HBA-NJ, swore in Jacqueline S. Peña as the 44th President of the HBA-NJ. Peña, an associate at Bowman and Brooke LLP and first generation American, kicked off her inaugural remarks as President of the HBA-NJ by introducing the 2023-2024 theme, “Pa’lante: Progress Through Purpose.” Pa’lante, a Spanish contraction of para adelante, means “straight ahead” or “forward.” President Peña encouraged attendees to remember theirs and the HBA-NJ’s purpose as they move forward as members of the Hispanic legal community. She explained that the key to furthering the HBA-NJ’s purpose, which includes diversity and inclusion within the legal community and the community at-large, was education and mentorship, and challenged listeners to honor their responsibility to “ensure that our current members and the next generation of Latino lawyers have the knowledge and support they need to succeed.” Peña noted that, despite having graduated from high school as valedictorian, she felt underprepared for the rigors of the much larger setting that was her college experience. Peña remarked that she met that challenge with a determination to succeed and moved forward with the support of her family, community, and mentors, many of whom she met through the HBA-NJ. In speaking of the plans for her tenure, President Peña announced the anticipated expansion of the American Dream Pipeline Program, a program started by the HBA-NJ in 2013 to mentor high school students in urban areas. Peña also announced the launch of a new pipeline program designed to help members achieve in-house counsel roles, equity partnership, and “rainmaker” status. “By empowering our members and future lawyers with information,” Peña asserted, “we can pave the way for progress through purpose.”
Albertina “Abby” Webb, Immediate Past President of the HBA-NJ and a partner at Hill Wallack LLP, closed her tenure as President of the HBA-NJ by giving an impassioned and inspiring speech highlighting the HBA-NJ’s dedication to the Hispanic community of New Jersey, and urging the attendees to “lift as you climb.” Webb also underscored the HBA-NJ’s accomplishments during her term as president, including the continuation of the Nuts & Bolts program with the New Jersey Women’s Lawyers Association, the alliances made with fellow affinity bars, the seminars presented to boost awareness of domestic violence, and the organization’s newly attained CLE accreditation status. Webb also presented this year’s Corazón Del HBA-NJ Award to Arianna Mouré, Membership Secretary of the HBA-NJ and Counsel at Scarinci Hollenbeck, for her unwavering service to the affinity bar. Also of special note was the call to continued service and collaboration made during the speech of Daniel Mateo, National President of the Hispanic National Bar Association, Past President of the HBA-NJ (2011-2012), and a partner at Holland & Knight LLP. Mateo highlighted that, of the past presidents of the Hispanic National Bar Association, three (himself included) have hailed from New Jersey.
The HBA-NJ thanks its sponsors and Installation attendees for their generosity and continued support. Notably, the HBA-NJ extends its gratitude to Lowenstein Sandler LLP for its Underwriter Annual and Diamond Installation sponsorship; Archer & Greiner P.C. for its Benefactor Annual and Gold Installation sponsorship, Esquire Process Servicing, LLC for its Amigo Annual and Diamond Installation sponsorship, as well as to Reed Smith LLP for its Amigo Annual and Platinum Installation sponsorship, and to our Amigo Annual and Gold Installation Sponsors: Bowman and Brooke LLP, Riker Danzig LLP, Bederson LLP, Stark & Stark, P.C., Baker Hostetler LLP, and Hudson Court Reporting; our Gold Installation sponsors: Weiner Law Group, LLP and Gibbons P.C.; our Silver Installation sponsors: O’Toole Scrivo LLC, Bendit Weinstock, P.A., Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., the Law Offices of Cesar Martin Estela, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, Johnson & Johnson, Holland & Knight LLP, and Columbia Bank; and our Annual Primo and Bronze Installation Sponsor: the Plata Law Group LLC.
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About The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
Founded in 1980, the HBA-NJ is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association that is comprised of attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and other professionals who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.
The purpose of the Association is to serve the public interest: (i) by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, (ii) by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and (iii) by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.
Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
P.O. Box 25562, Newark, NJ 07101
For press inquiries, please contact: Jacqueline S. Peña, Esq., HBA-NJ President, at Jacqueline.Pena@bowmanandbrooke.com, and Press Secretaries, Janett Smyth at jsmyth@hoaglandlongo.com and Maria Marrero at m.marrero22@gmail.com
For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, please visit our website at: www.njhba.org.
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