ISBA billboard featured in Puerto Rican parade

Two past presidents of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois marched with the Illinois State Bar Association’s mobile billboard tribute to Abraham Lincoln on June 14 in Chicago during the Puerto Rican Independence Day Parade.

Edwin Reyes and Beatriz Santiago, along with family members, accompanied the marchers, as did Associate Judge Jesse G. Reyes, a former member of the ISBA Assembly and past president of the Illinois Judges Association.

The Puerto Rican Bar Association was established in 1994 to address issues affecting members of the community, such as low income levels, high unemployment and school dropout rates.

Among its purposes are “to foster understanding of and respect for the law” and “to aid the Hispanic community in becoming aware of its rights, duties and privileges under the law.”

The association has been a participating member of the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening of candidates for appointment or election to the Cook County Circuit Court.

Members of the association also have conducted high school mock trials, given educational Law Day talks, and maintained a Christmas Adopt-a-Family program for needy families.

Edwin Reyes was one of the founding board members of the Puerto Rican Bar. He was succeeded as president on June 13 by Enrique Abraham.

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