History of the Unity Bar in California and Los Angeles
In 1987, Jerry Chong, Esq., Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes, and the Hon. Renard Shepard (Ret.), leaders of the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento, La Raza Lawyers of Sacramento (now Cruz Reynoso Bar Association), and Wiley Manuel Bar Association joined together to form the Unity Bar Association of Sacramento. The Unity Bar was created to increase the power and influence of the individual bar associations regarding judicial applications and appointments. Soon other counties followed, including Los Angeles. On January 8, 2024, thanks to the steadfast work of Magdalena Casas (2023 MABA President) and Angela Zanin (2023 IALA President), the Los Angeles County Unity Bar (LACUB) was officially formed. Today there are fifteen (15) Unity Bars throughout California.
Pictured above: From left to right: Hon. Renard Shepard (Ret.) Jerry Chong, Esq., Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes at the first Unity Bar dinner in Sacramento, 1987.
Pictured above: From left to right: Hon. Renard Shepard (Ret.) Jerry Chong, Esq., Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes at the first Unity Bar dinner in Sacramento, 1987.
Los Angeles County Unity Bar Co-Founders: Magdalena Casas and Angela Zanin
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From left to right: Founding Co-Chair, Magdalena Casas, former JNE Chair, Justin Palmer, and Founding Co-Chair Angela Zanin. July 19, 2024.
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Los Angeles County Unity Bar Founding Member Organizations
Mexican American Bar Association (MABA)
Italian American Lawyers Association (IALA)
Japanese American Bar Association (JABA)
Philippine American Bar Association (PABA)
Black Women Lawyers Association (BWL)
Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA)
Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA)
South Asian Bar Association of Southern California (SABA)
Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California (VABASC)
Italian American Lawyers Association (IALA)
Japanese American Bar Association (JABA)
Philippine American Bar Association (PABA)
Black Women Lawyers Association (BWL)
Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA)
Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA)
South Asian Bar Association of Southern California (SABA)
Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California (VABASC)
California Unity Bars
Central Valley Unity Bar Association (Fresno)
Inland Empire Unity Bar Association (San Bernardino & Riverside)
Los Angeles County Unity Bar
Merced County Unity Bar Association
Orange County Unity Bar Association
Sacramento Unity Bar Association
San Luis Obispo Unity Bar Association
Santa Barbara Unity Bar Association
Santa Clara Unity Bar
Stanislaus Unity Bar
Tulare Unity Bar Association
Unity Bar Association of Kern County
Unity Bar of San Diego
Unity Bar of Yolo County
Ventura Unity Bar Association
Inland Empire Unity Bar Association (San Bernardino & Riverside)
Los Angeles County Unity Bar
Merced County Unity Bar Association
Orange County Unity Bar Association
Sacramento Unity Bar Association
San Luis Obispo Unity Bar Association
Santa Barbara Unity Bar Association
Santa Clara Unity Bar
Stanislaus Unity Bar
Tulare Unity Bar Association
Unity Bar Association of Kern County
Unity Bar of San Diego
Unity Bar of Yolo County
Ventura Unity Bar Association