Sylvia A. Cavazos named Lawyer of the Year at Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys Law Day Banquet

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys elected its past President Sylvia A. Cavazos of San Antonio, Texas as the 2016 Lawyer of the Year at its annual Law Day Banquet and Scholarship Fundraiser held on May 4, 2016 at the Del Rio Civic Center in Del Rio, Texas.

Father Henry Clay Hunt, III of St. Joseph’s Church in Del Rio presented the invocation at the Law Day Banquet.

United States Magistrate Judge Victor Roberto Garcia for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, introduced the guests at the Law Day Banquet, including United States District Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, and Justice Rebeca Martinez of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio, Texas.

Judge Alia Moses swore-in the new Board of Directors and Officers of the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys, including Dalila Padilla Paxton of Del Rio as President, Edgar Juarez of Eagle Pass as President-Elect, Sostenes Mireles, II  of Del Rio as Secretary, Joseph Cordova of Del Rio as Treasurer, and Sylvia A. Cavazos of San Antonio as Past President.

Judge Victor Roberto Garcia presented the 2016 Lawyer of the Year Award to Sylvia A. Cavazos of San Antonio.  Judge Garcia noted that the Lawyer of the Year Award is voted on by the members of the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys to its member who has demonstrated outstanding legal advocacy and dedication to the legal profession.

Judge Alia Moses introduced the keynote speaker at the Law Day Banquet, Justice Rebeca Martinez of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals.  Judge Moses noted that Justice Rebeca Martinez is a graduate of Boston University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree, Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Art degree, and Incarnate Word Academy of San Antonio.

Justice Rebeca Martinez presented a speech on the importance of the Miranda Rights under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Attorney Javier Riojas of Eagle Pass, Chairman of the Executive Scholarship Committee, announced and presented 20 scholarship recipients for 2016 awarded by members of the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys, including Emma B. Palmer and Kaitlyn Partlow of Brackettville High School; Isaac Turrubiate Salinas, Grecia G. De La Cerda, Cynthia A. Castillo, and Esmeralda Sanchez of Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School; Diego A Guerrero, Bellanira Jimenez, Alyssa L. Garza, and Jesus Martinez, Jr. of Crystal City High School; Analysa D. Calderon, Karia J. Howard, Julia A. Martinez, Alberto A. Rodriguez, and Adriana R. Urueta of Del Rio High School; Carlos Valdez, Thaliza C. Martinez, and Joseph C. Black of Eagle Pass High School; and Miranda R. Robles and Karina Davis of Sabinal High School.  Each scholarship recipient received a $500 scholarship award.

The Executive Scholarship Committee is composed of Javier Riojas, Alberto M. Ramon, and Jessie Coronado.  Sponsors of the 20 scholarships included the Del Rio Association of Federal Attorneys, Sylvia A. Cavazos, Jessie Coronado, Sostenes Mireles, II, Gerald C. Moton, and Rogelio M. Munoz, Jr..

A Silent Auction was also held during the Law Day Banquet to raise funds for next year’s scholarship fund.