8th Annual CRBA Defensor De Justicia Award Ceremony

We would like to cordially invite you, on behalf of the Cruz Reynoso Bar Association, to our Defensor de Justicia ceremony.

The 8th Annual Defensor De Justicia Ceremony will be held on and will take place on the evening of May 21, 2026, at the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District.

The Defensor de Justicia award is the highest accolade the Cruz Reynoso Bar Association (formerly known as La Raza Bar Association) offers to individuals who have exemplified a commitment to our community and the pursuit of justice in the vein of the great Justice Reynoso. Past recipients have included then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Dean Kevin Johnson of UC Davis King Hall School of Law, Judge David De Alba (Ret.), Judge Emily Vasquez (Ret.), Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes, Jesse M. Rivera of Rivera Hewitt Paul LLP, and Amagda Perez of UC Davis King Hall School of Law and California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation.

This year, our ceremony will honor Joe Ayala, Esq. as the recipient of the Defensor de Justicia Award for his work and contributions in our legal community in seeking access to justice and equality, as well as his volunteer work in the community!

It is our honor and privilege to add Mr. Ayala to the list of Defensor de Justicia recipients due to his lifelong dedication to the ideals and mission of our organization, including service to one’s community, increasing access to justice, and leadership as a legal professional. Not only does Mr. Ayala serve as a leader of our organization, he has also been and continues to be instrumental in advancing the interests of Latinos and other underserved communities in the legal profession throughout the great State of California.

Defensor De Justicia Scholarship Application is open now!

In addition to honoring Mr. Ayala, we also pay homage to Justice Cruz Reynoso’s legacy of mentorship by offering a Defensor de Justicia scholarship to a promising young law student who also embodies the principles and ideals that define the next generation of leaders working towards social justice. The is now open, and the Deadline is on May 8, 2026, at 8 pm.

This year, we will also be honoring Judge George A. Acero of the Sacramento Superior Court with the Cruz Reynoso Lifetime Membership Award and Justice Elena Duarte of the 3rd District Court of Appeal with the Cruz Reynoso Lifetime Achievement Award for her years of dedication and work on the eve of her retirement from the 3rd District Court of Appeal, and her contribution to our legal community for 34 years.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

We hope that you will be able to join us, and we also invite your organization to participate as a sponsor of the event. All sponsors will receive thanks in our promotional materials, program, and during the ceremony. Donations from sponsors will help us not only with this event in honor of Mr. Ayala, but also with our Defensor de Justicia scholarship fund, as well as other future scholarships.

• $2,000 - Oro (Gold) Sponsorship Level (includes 5 tickets, Sponsorship Acknowledgement: CRBA website, CRBA LinkedIn, CRBA Instagram, Event Board Advertisement, Program, Slideshow, and Honorable mention)
• $1000 - Plata (Silver) Sponsorship Level (includes 4 tickets, Sponsorship Acknowledgement: CRBA LinkedIn, CRBA Instagram, Event Board Advertisement, Program, Slideshow, and Honorable mention)
• $500 - Bronce (Bronze) Sponsorship Level (includes 3 tickets, Sponsorship Acknowledgement: CRBA LinkedIn, CRBA Instagram, Event Board Advertisement, Program, Slideshow, and Honorable mention)
• $250 - Unidiad (Unity) Sponsorship Level (includes 2 tickets and Sponsorship Acknowledgement: Program, Slideshow, and Honorable mention)
• $150 - Comunidad (Community) Sponsorship Level (includes 1 ticket and Sponsorship Acknowledgement: Slideshow and Event Honorable mention)

Sponsorships may be purchased via Eventbrite or by sending us an email to coordinate payment via check to avoid Eventbrite fees at [email protected] or by mailing a check to CRBA at PO Box 161102 Sacramento, CA 95816.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL SOON!

Best,

Defensor De Justicia Planning Committee

Cruz Reynoso Bar Association

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