The Cuban American Bar Association held its 2023 Judicial Forum and Luncheon on Friday, August 11 at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Coconut Grove. The event celebrated Florida’s Hispanic women judges and their service to the judiciary, commitment to justice and dedication to promoting diversity in the legal profession. U.S. Century Bank was the main sponsor.
“Hispanic women have played a major role in breaking down barriers in many fields and this includes the justice system,” said Giselle Gutierrez, CABA president and attorney at Stearns Weaver Miller. “They have contributed greatly to the diversity on the bench and continue to empower the next generation of future Hispanic women judges.”
Honorees included:
Hon. Meredith L. Sasso, Supreme Court Justice, Florida Supreme Court
Hon. Monica Gordo, Appellate Court Judge, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal
Hon. Leandra G. Johnson, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 3rd Judicial Circuit
Hon. Tatiana Radi Salvador, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Myriam Irizarry, Senior County Court Judge, Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Gloria Walker, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 8th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Gisela T. Laurent, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Brenda P. Ramirez, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Gina Beovides, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Maria Ruhl, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Miriam Velez Valkenburg, County Court Judge, Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Ana Maria Garcia, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 14th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Daliah H. Weiss, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Marina Garcia-Wood, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Christina Marie Sanchez Serrano, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Josephine Gagliardi, County Court Judge, Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit
Hon. Corali Lopez-Castro, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge, Southern District of Florida
Hon. Virginia Covington, U.S. District Court Judge, Middle District of Florida
“It is a privilege to participate in this important forum and to celebrate the many achievements of Hispanic women in Florida’s judiciary,” said Luis de la Aguilera, president and CEO of U.S. Century Bank. “We are proud of their accomplishments and the standard they set as they inspire others.”
The full day of programming included breakfast followed by three CLEs which were led by various legal professionals from around the state. The topics discussed were:
- “The Ins & Outs of The Florida Bar Grievance Process,” presented by Florida Bar President-Elect and CABA Past President Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr., SMGQ Law; and CABA Director Daniel Buigas, Lamelas Law,
- “Legal Ethics in AI Technology,” presented by Florida Bar Past President and CABA Past President Ramon A. Abadin, Ramon A. Adabin, P.A.; Gordon Johnson Glover, Florida Bar AI Committee Co-Chair, Glover Law Firm; and Francisco Ramos, Jr., Clarke SIlvergate, P.A., and
- “Demystifying the Judicial Nominating Commission”, presented by Maria D. Garcia, CABA Past President, Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton; Meredith Pardo, Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, Assistant General Counsel, Director of Judicial Appointments; Harout Jack Samra, Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, DLA Piper; and Lilly Ann Sanchez, Florida’s Third District Judicial Nominating Commission Chair, The LS Law Firm.
About the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
Founded in 1974, CABA is one of the largest bar associations in the state of Florida. Its membership is comprised of lawyers and law students from various backgrounds whose interests include not only those affecting the Cuban community, but human and legal rights issues impacting minority communities. CABA also founded CABA Pro Bono Legal Services and the CABA Foundation, both created on the association’s fundamental values to aid those in need through legal advocacy as well as offering scholarships to law students.
