Norton to Honor Urbina, First Latino to Serve on Federal and Local Courts in D.C.

Norton to Honor Urbina, First Latino to Serve on Federal and Local Courts in D.C.

November 2, 2011

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will honor Judge Ricardo Urbina at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia this evening from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Judge Urbina is the first Latino to be appointed to the local and the federal bench here. Norton recommended Urbina to President Bill Clinton, who nominated him for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 1994. President Ronald Reagan nominated him for the District of Columbia Superior Court in 1991. Judge Urbina has now taken senior status on the U.S. District Court.

Norton will present Judge Urbina with a congressional plaque of her remarks on the House floor honoring him. In her remarks, Norton said "The judge's roots in our Latino community make him a history-making role model particularly for a community that had no presence on either our local or federal courts before he paved the way on both. Yet, because of Judge Urbina's professionalism, excellence, character, and many contributions to the law and to the community, he has set a high bar as a lawyer, judge and distinguished citizen not only for lawyers, but for all who aspire to achieve in our city."