Hispanic Appointments Project
Since September 2008, the Hispanic National Bar Association (“HNBA”) has been spearheading a nationwide effort to identify Latino attorneys who possess the skills, experience and interest to serve the people of the United States in positions in the Executive Branch or the Federal Judiciary.
HNBA’s HISPANIC APPOINTMENTS PROJECT
Are you a Latino/a attorney interested in working in the federal government or federal judiciary? Are you an HNBA member? If you have ever considered working for the federal government or have a calling for public service, now is the time to throw your proverbial hat in the ring. Through its Hispanic Appointments Project, the HNBA is here to help you achieve that dream.
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
President Obama has developed a policy agenda designed to address the many challenges our country faces. To this end, the Obama Administration must rely on talented individuals to assist in the design, implementation and enforcement of the government’s policies, initiatives and laws. Appointed officials have the power to design and influence the policies of the many federal departments and administrative agencies that constitute the Executive branch of government, and to ensure that the President’s agenda is achieved. To learn more about the Executive Branch positions the President is able to fill through appointments, please take a look at The Plum Book (United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions): 2008 Edition ) at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/2008/index.html
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
President Obama has the opportunity to appoint judges to all levels of the federal judiciary, including the United States Supreme Court. Ensuring that Hispanics are considered for judicial appointments at all levels has been a long-term priority of the HNBA. We routinely vet and endorse judicial candidates and lobby for their nomination and confirmation. While it is impossible to predict how fast the Obama administration will move on specific judicial nominations, the start of a new President’s term is a key time for advance planning by the HNBA to ensure that Hispanic lawyers are adequately represented among judicial nominees. That is why we started prior to the presidential election to identify HNBA members who possess the qualifications to serve and have the interest in serving as federal judges.
As of October 2008 there were 36 vacancies in the federal district and circuit courts, with 26 nominations pending confirmation by the Senate. For a listing of all the existing vacancies, please visit http://www.uscourts.gov/cfapps/webnovada/CF_FB_301/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reports.ViewVacancies
To see the vacancies classified as emergencies as of late October 2008, please go to http://www.uscourts.gov/cfapps/webnovada/CF_FB_301/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reports.ViewEmergencies
There are also twenty (20) future federal district court and court of appeals vacancies due to announced retirements or resignations. While individuals have been nominated for four of those vacancies, the Senate’s likely failure to act on those nominations prior to the new President’s inauguration will mean that all twenty positions are effectively available. To learn about the announced future vacancies, please go to http://www.uscourts.gov/cfapps/webnovada/CF_FB_301/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reports.ViewFuture .
In order to be considered for a federal judgeship, you must obtain the support of the U.S. Senators from your state. Senators’ approaches to identifying potential nominees vary, so to learn more about how your Senators go about selecting individuals for recommendation to the President for nomination, please contact them directly. Contact information for all members of the U.S. Senate is found at http://www.senate.gov/
Hispanic Appointments Project Mechanics:
The Project will ensure that qualified, committed and talented HNBA members have a fair opportunity to seek appointments to important positions. If you want to be considered for recommendation by the HNBA, please follow the steps outlined below.
For more answers to common questions Hispanic Appointments Project, please read our frequently asked questions page: Hispanic Appointments Project FAQ
Step 1: Decide whether you have what it takes and have a commitment to serve.
Working as an appointed official at the highest level of the Executive Branch or on the bench requires a serious commitment of time and energy. The following are just a few factors to keep in mind when you ask the HNBA to present your name and credentials to the Obama Administration for nomination to an Executive Branch position or a judgeship:
- In the Executive Branch, you will be working in an environment that demands long hours and an intense pace.
- You, and the work you do, will be under much public and press scrutiny.
- Applicants under serious consideration for an appointment will undergo a full FBI background check which will require extensive review of your employment, professional, personal, travel, medical, financial, legal, military and educational histories.
- In many if not all cases, you will be required to disclose your financial holdings and sources of income for review of any possible conflicts of interest.
- Most Executive Branch appointees’ ability to enter into business dealings with the Federal government will be severely restricted during and for a time after their service in order to prevent possible conflicts of interest.
Step 2: Contact an HNBA Board Member and/or the HNBA Regional President in your region as well as M. Lucero Ortiz, HNBA Director of Programs and Policy, to formally request an endorsement from the HNBA. In addition, the HNBA required a current resume, list of references, and completed Executive Certification Form for executive candidates and the HNBA judicial questionnaire for judicial candidates. Send all these materials to ztapia@hnba.com.
Step 3: Sign and return the HNBA Executive Certification Form.
Step 4: The HNBA will review all application and present qualified candidates to the Presidential transition team of the President-Elect. Please note that HNBA will conduct some due diligence and vetting on applicants and that HNBA endorsements require an affirmative vote of the HNBA Judiciary Committee or Executive Endorsement Committee (as appropriate) and the HNBA Board of Governors. To learn more about our endorsement processes and criteria, please review our policies on judiciary endorsements (click here to see our Policy) and Executive Endorsements.
If you would like more information regarding the appointment process, or would like to volunteer to serve on a Committee, please contact the HNBA at: ztapia@hnba.com – your subject line should say either “judiciary” or “executive” depending on the subject of your interest.
RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Identifying Opportunities:
• The Plum Book (United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions): 2008 Edition
The Application Process:
• The Brookings Institute has complied excellent resources for anyone interested in appointments.
• Be sure to read the Survivor’s Guide for Presidential Nominees
• Form SF86 (Questionnaire for National Security Positions)
• FormSF278 (Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report)
Federal Employment – Effective Resumes:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Hispanic Appointments Project?
For the first time ever, the HNBA is making a proactive effort to identify Hispanic lawyers interested in presidential appointments in order to present their qualifications to the transition team of the President-Elect.
2. Who is eligible to submit a resume to the project?
We welcome resumes from any HNBA members, or non-members, interested in an appointment to the Executive Branch of the U.S. government or to the Federal bench.
3. What kinds of positions are available?
The President appoints thousands of executive branch employees across dozens of agencies. The levels of employment range from agency staff to Cabinet secretaries and ambassadors that require confirmation by the U.S. Senate. For a complete list of appointed positions, see “United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, ’’ commonly known as the Plum Book.
Additionally, there currently many vacancies on the federal courts at both the district and appellate levels. To learn more about existing vacancies, visit http://www.uscourts.gov/cfapps/webnovada/CF_FB_301/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reports.ViewVacancies. Expected vacancies resulting from announced resignations and retirements are listed at http://www.uscourts.gov/cfapps/webnovada/CF_FB_301/index.cfm?fuseaction=Reports.ViewFuture
4. How many positions in the federal government does the project expect to fill?
The Hispanic Appointments Project has no numerical target. The President has the authority to fill thousands of positions in hundreds of agencies, departments, boards and commissions and the federal judiciary.
5. Who will “vet” project applicants and how will that happen?
Candidates interested in an executive or judicial appointment must formally request endorsement and provide a background information per the endorsements policies and procedures. Afterwards, the endorsements committee conducts a due diligence of the candidate and presents a report to the HNBA Board of Governors, which then votes on endorsement.
6. Does submitting an application to the HNBA’s Project boost an individual’s chances of getting an appointment?
HNBA has no official role in the appointments process or in connection with hiring by the federal government. Participation in this Project does not mean that HNBA will necessarily recommend you for a position or that an HNBA recommendation with will lead to an appointment.
7. When will applicants know whether or not they are being considered for employment?
Once the HNBA has endorsed a candidate, we will advocate on the candiate’s behalf and inform the relevant decision makers of our endorsement. The executive and judicial nominations will be ongoing depending on vacancies. Any applicant under consideration will be contacted directly by President Obama’s Administration and not by HNBA.
8. How do I submit my resume to the project?
Submit your required materials to the HNBA National Office at ztapia@hnba.com with the following information on the subject line: FULL NAME & POSITION SOUGHT.
