Judge Rudolph Contreras is a highly respected jurist currently serving on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2012, Judge Contreras has established himself as a distinguished figure in the legal community, known for his commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

Judge Contreras graduated from the Florida State University in 1984 and earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1991. He began his legal career as an Associate at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue where he worked in the General Litigation group.

Following his three-year term in private practice, Judge Contreras joined the Department of Justice, where he held various positions at two different United States Attorney’s Offices.  First, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  Later, he served as Chief of the Civil Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Finally, after his return to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, he served as Civil Chief there.  His extensive experience in public service has equipped him with a deep understanding of the complexities of the legal system and a profound dedication to upholding the principles of justice.

Throughout his tenure on the bench, Judge Contreras has presided over numerous significant cases involving administrative law, regulatory issues, national security issues, and constitutional matters. His rulings are noted for their thorough legal reasoning and impartiality, reflecting his unwavering commitment to delivering fair and just outcomes.

In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Contreras is deeply committed to education and mentorship. He has been actively involved in the Hispanic National Bar Foundation’s educational programs, including presiding over mock trials for over a decade. These programs provide invaluable real-life experiences for students, helping them to understand their skills and abilities and inspiring the next generation of Hispanic lawyers.

Judge Contreras’s dedication to diversity and inclusion is evident in his efforts to support and mentor young Hispanic lawyers and law students. He serves as a role model and inspiration, demonstrating that success in the legal profession is attainable through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence.

In recognition of his exemplary career and significant contributions to the legal community, Judge Contreras is being honored with the Hispanic National Bar Foundation’s Judicial Leadership Award. This award celebrates his achievements and underscores his impact on promoting diversity within the legal profession and supporting the future leaders of tomorrow.

Judge Rudolph Contreras’s career embodies the values of excellence, integrity, and dedication that the Hispanic National Bar Foundation strives to promote. His work not only advances the cause of justice but also inspires countless individuals to pursue their aspirations with confidence and determination. The HNBF is proud to honor Judge Contreras for his outstanding contributions and his unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.

David E. Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D. is currently Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley, and completed his doctoral work in Basic Sciences at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco. Dr. Hayes-Bautista served on the faculty at the School of Public Health at U.C. Berkeley until 1987, when he took his current position at UCLA.

Dr. Hayes-Bautista’s research appears in a variety of medical journals including Family Medicine, the American Journal of Public Health, Family Practice, Academic Medicine and Salud Pública de México. Some of his published books include The Burden of Support: Young Latinos in an Aging Society (Stanford University Press, 1988), El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition (University of California Press, 2012) and La Nueva California: Latinos from Pioneers to Post Millennials (University of California Press, 2017.)  His most recent book is The Latino Big Bang in California. The Diary of Justo Veytia, a Mexican Forty-Niner (university of New Mexico, 2023)

Dr. Hayes-Bautista writes columns for the Los Angeles Times and La Opinion and is often asked to provide opinions on radio and television in both Spanish and English. In 2012, he received the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Herbert W. Nickens Award for his lifelong concerns about the educational, societal, and health care needs of underrepresented groups, and in 2016 the Ohtli Award from the Mexican Government.

Frost Brown Todd is a national, full-service law firm with more than 575 lawyers operating in 17 offices across nine states and Washington, D.C. The firm assists clients with transactions and litigation in every major industry around the globe, with notable depth and distinction in the energy, manufacturing, finance, technology, and health care innovation sectors. Its attorneys routinely rank among the top practitioners in disciplines including labor and employment, intellectual property, tax and environmental law, product liability, finance, and commercial litigation. Committed to refining the art of client service, the firm leverages technical, industry and legal knowledge and hands-on experience to serve a diverse client base, from leading multinationals to small, entrepreneurial companies. Frost Brown Todd has also garnered local and national recognition for its inclusive culture, community leadership, pro bono work, and innovative approach to the integration and development of associates.

Furthermore, with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Frost Brown Todd is a recognized leader among law firms and part of a select group nationwide to consecutively earn the Mansfield Rule™ Plus Certification in recognition of its efforts to diversify the legal and advancement pipeline to be more inclusive of attorneys from historically underrepresented groups. In 2023, Frost Brown Todd expanded to California through its merger with AlvaradoSmith—a decision based in no small part on the two firms’ cultural alignment and shared commitment to DEI. As a result of the merger, Frost Brown Todd was able to further amplify AlvaradoSmith’s legacy DEI initiatives. This includes the Raymond G. Alvarado Scholarship, a sub-fund of the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) that annually provides financial assistance to Hispanic students interested in pursuing a career in the legal field and who have demonstrated leadership and involvement in the community. Ruben Smith, who serves as partner-in-charge of the firm’s Orange County office and co-chair of its Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee, is a founding member and 30-year supporter of HEEF, which has provided nearly $3 million in scholarships to date.

In addition to supporting pipeline programs for Hispanic students, Frost Brown Todd has executed programming to educate its workforce on the unique obstacles that people from Hispanic communities face. Part of these efforts are internal workshops featuring prominent figures such as Judge Marily Zayas, author and civil rights lawyer Efrén Olivares, as well as the actors Tony Plana and Ada Maris. Externally, Frost Brown Todd sponsors local initiatives to support Hispanic students, attorneys, and communities across the United States. The firm has also sponsored numerous events and organizations such as the Mexican American Bar Foundation Gala, University of Kentucky BLSA & LLSA Gala, University of Michigan LLSA JLT Scholarship Banquet, Indiana Latino Institute Hispanic Heritage Month Luncheon, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association.

In its inaugural Embracing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion special report, the Orange County Business Journal recognized Frost Brown Todd as a company whose innovative ideas are reshaping how DEI is practiced and seeing real impacts in both the workplace and community.