HNBA Endorses Eric Holder for Attorney General of the United States

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ramona E. Romero, the HNBA
National President, has written to Senators Patrick J. Leahy and Arlen Specter
to urge the expeditious confirmation of Eric Holder as the Attorney General of
the United States. In her letter, President Romero explained that after
conducting appropriate due diligence and considering Mr. Holder's credentials
and record of public service, the HNBA endorsed Mr. Holder because he has both
the broad professional experience and the personal qualities required to lead
the Department of Justice ("DOJ") in a manner that honors its finest
traditions and its mission of "ensur[ing] fair and impartial administration of
justice for all Americans."

At a time when the DOJ's reputation for impartiality and integrity has been
undermined by reports concerning the role political considerations have played
in setting prosecutorial and personnel priorities at the Department, Mr.
Holder's record evidences the ability to remain unaffected by political
pressures. He also has an established record of making enforcement decisions
based on legal analysis and the public interest, with due respect to
individual rights.

"Because its raison d'etre is promoting the fair administration of justice for
all, the HNBA is particularly interested in ensuring that the next Attorney
General possesses the stature, integrity, judgment, experience and commitment
to public service required to command the respect and support of both the
citizenry and the career staff at the DOJ. Eric Holder is such a person,"
wrote President Romero.

"We believe that under the leadership of Eric Holder, the DOJ will bring
together a cadre of diverse attorneys who will abide by our constitution and
the rule of law," said Alejandra Y. Castillo, Chair of the HNBA's Executive
Endorsements Committee and Co-Chair of the Association's Presidential
Appointments Project. Through its Appointments Project, the HNBA has received
almost 200 resumes from highly talented and experienced Latino lawyers who are
interested in serving in President-Elect Barack Obama's Administration.

A copy of the letter to Senators Patrick J. Leahy and Arlen Specter is
available on the HNBA website, www.hnba.com. The Hispanic National Bar
Association is an incorporated, not-for-profit, national membership
organization that represents the interests of the more than 100,000 attorneys,
judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students of Hispanic descent
in the United States, its territories and Puerto Rico. For more information
about the HNBA, please visit www.hnba.com.

SOURCE Hispanic National Bar Association

M. Lucero Ortiz of the Hispanic National Bar Association, +1-202-223-4777,
mlortiz@hnba.com