Utah Bar Journal

The 'First 50' is a distinguished group, consisting of African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, and Native American lawyers who are pioneers in the Utah legal field. Each of the First 50 overcame obstacles and prejudice to become a lawyer. Each has a unique story. The first minority attorney in Utah was an African-American gentleman named Lawrence Marsh who was admitted to practice law in 1909. From then, it took more than fifty years to arrive at ten minority lawyers admitted in Utah (in 1961, Kenneth M. Hisatake became the 10th minority attorney in Utah). Only one minority attorney, Kent T. Yano, was admitted in the 1960s (1968). The rest of the First 50 were admitted during the 1970s and the year 1980.

In spite of the barriers they faced, the First 50 have made an impressive mark on the Utah legal field. Members of the First 50 include eight Utah State Court Judges (Judge Raymond S. Uno (Ret.), Judge Glenn K. Iwasaki, Judge Howard H. Maetani, Judge Sheila K. McCleve, Judge Andrew A. Valdez, Judge William A. Thorne, Jr., Judge Tyrone Medley, and Judge Paul F. Iwasaki), as well as a United States Magistrate Judge (Judge Samuel Alba), a Federal Administrative Law Judge (Judge Gilbert A. Martinez), and a Navajo Supreme Court Justice (Justice Herbert Yazzie). Two of the First 50 are presently Professors of Law (Professor Larry J. EchoHawk at Brigham Young University and Professor Jimmy GurulŽ at Notre Dame). Others serve in government positions and many have started their own practices in a variety of fields. Some have held elected office, some have served our country in the military, some have held prestigious positions appointed by Presidents of the United States (among others, Michael N. Martinez served as Deputy General Counsel to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Jimmy GurulŽ as Undersecretary of the U.S. Treasury).

Regardless of the path they took, all of the First 50 have contributed to bettering society through their service and efforts to create opportunities for others. Many have advocated for the civil rights and legal protections of the indigent and disadvantaged, and all have served as examples for those following in their footsteps. Many have volunteered their time and energy to various Boards and organizations to provide service to the community. Their accomplishments are too numerous to name here, but will be highlighted the night of the First 50 banquet.

Those of us in the legal field who are persons of color, in addition to all others in our state who benefit from the richness of diversity in the legal profession, owe much to the First 50. Please join us in honoring them. Your support will enable UMBA to pay tribute to the First 50 and to continue UMBA's important work in furthering diversity in the legal profession and advocating for legal services and education to minority communities. Some of UMBA's ongoing programs include: scholarships to minority law students, mentoring and educational programs for minority law students and attorneys, networking and business development for minority attorneys and others, furthering the 'Diversity Pledge' among legal employers, and promoting the provision of legal services and education to underserved minority populations.

UMBA would also like to thank the sponsors whose generous support will allow us to recognize the stories of these inspiring individuals. We hope that you will join us on October 15.

ERRATA
The list of First 50 attorneys published in the July/August issue of the Utah Bar Journal has been modified based on continued research by UMBA and information provided by Utah State Bar members. The following revisions have been made: (1) Lawrence Marsh (African American) was the first minority lawyer admitted in Utah (1909); (2) Thomas W. EchoHawk (Native American) (1978) has been added to the list; and (3) Jimmy GurulŽ's date of admission is 10/09/1980.

Please go to UMBA's website at www.umbalaw.com for further information and to see an updated list of the First 50.

FIRST 50 SPONSORS

Underwriter Sponsors ($10,000+)
Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
Parsons Behle & Latimer

VIP Sponsors ($2,500)
American Express
Smiles for Diversity Foundation (Dr. Dan Fischer of Ultradent)
Snow, Christensen & Martineau
Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy

VIP (In-Kind) Sponsors ($2,500+)
Reagan Outdoor Advertising
Utah Law & Justice Center
Utah State Bar
Vanguard Media Group

UMBA Angel ($1,500)
Chapman & Cutler
Christensen & Jensen
Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough
Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar
Manning Curtis Bradshaw & Bednar, LLC
Richards, Brandt, Miller & Nelson
Snell & Wilmer LLP
Zions First National Bank

UMBA Friend ($1,000)
ATK
Bendinger, Crockett, Peterson, Greenwood & Casey, PC
Callister Nebeker & McCullough
Durham Jones & Pinegar
Fabian & Clendenin
Holland & Hart, LLP
Holme Roberts & Owen, LLP
Holland & Hart, LLP
Hon. Raymond S. Uno (Ret.)
J. Reuben Clark School of Law (BYU)
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation
Law Offices of Blake Nakamura
LDS Foundation
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless
Ray Quinney & Nebeker
S.J. Quinney School of Law (University of Utah)
Stoel Rives LLP
Strong & Hanni, PC
Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Utah Trial Lawyers Association
Workman Nydegger, PC
Young Lawyers Division of the Utah State Bar

UMBA Patron (up to $999)
Clayton A. Simms, LLC
Law Office of Robert M. Archuleta
Strindberg Scholnick & Chamness, LLC