The Civil Rights Legacy of Justice Cruz Reynoso

In May 2021, we have lost a civil rights icon and immigration reformer.  The first Latino on the California Supreme Court, Cruz Reynoso, passed away yesterday after a long illness. He had just celebrated his 90th birthday.  Here is a story on Cruz’s passing in the Los Angeles Times.

On October 21, 2021, the UC Davis School of Law held an in-person and virtual event commemorating the civil rights legacy of Justice Cruz Reynoso. Leading civil rights lawyers who worked alongside Justice Reynoso remembered and honored his legacy as a civil rights icon and discussed the continuation of the important racial justice work that Cruz Reynoso deeply cared about. The program included a welcome and introduction by UC Davis Law Dean Kevin R. Johnson. UC Davis Law
Professor Raquel Aldana moderated the discussion of three Latinx civil rights leaders

The panel discussion of The Civil Rights Legacy of Justice Cruz Reynoso included remarks from prominent Latina/o civil rights leaders who knew and worked with Justice Reynoso:

José Padilla, Executive Director, California Rural Legal Assistance

Amagda Pérez, Executive Director, California Rural Legal
Assistance Foundation

Thomas Saenz, President and General Counsel, Mexican American
Legal Defense and Educational Fund

I offered an introduction and Professor Raquel Aldana was the moderator.

The UC Davis Social Justice Law Review published a lightly edited transcription of the discussion.  Here is the transcript.

KJ