Judge Huerta also played a pivotal role in drafting the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Constitution and in obtaining trust lands and federal benefits for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.  He was the first Native American to be appointed to the Arizona Industrial Commission where he served for six years.  

 

In 1967, he was appointed to the Maricopa County Superior Court and filled his judicial responsibilities with distinction.  A strong proponent for education, Judge Huerta also served as Chancellor of the newly created Navajo Community College (now Diné College). 

 

Throughout his life, Judge Huerta has been a champion of Native American legal rights and equal educational opportunity.  He has touched the lives of thousands as an advocate, a mentor, a judge, a nation builder, an author, a colleague, and a friend.  Coming from humble roots, he succeeded in the highest echelons of the legal profession. By his own example, Judge Huerta has shown the value of hard work, fierce determination, generosity of spirit, and absolute integrity. 

 

Judge Huerta spoke at the IPLP graduation ceremony responding to the announcement that he will receive the College's Lifetime Achievement Award.  He offered his humble thanks for the award and -- consonant with his character -- shared the story of his own graduation.

 

When Judge Huerta was nearing graduation from law school, his parents were told that it is traditional to provide your child with a graduation gift.  They wanted to demonstrate their pride in his achievements, but with only limited resources an expensive present was out of the question.  So his mother began to craft a statue of Lady Justice out of clay and papier-mâché, while his father carved the woodwork for the scales.  

 

Judge Huerta brought the finished statue to the ceremony, sharing this extraordinary demonstration of love and encouragement from his parents.  The beautiful statue had become one of his most treasured possessions.  He noted that for 60 years he had not been able to thank them publicly for the deeply meaningful gift, and sharing his story was a way to thank them.

 

Judge Huerta then stunned everyone in the room when he announced that he was giving the statue as a gift to the College so that it may be preserved and serve as a symbol of hope, opportunity, and justice for generations to come.

 

For his tenacity, his talents, and his commitment to the law, the Arizona Law faculty voted to bestow on Judge Huerta the Lifetime Achievement Award. While this award will be formally presented at a future event, we took advantage of the opportunity at the reception to recognize Judge Huerta and celebrate his many accomplishments.

 

It was my pleasure to honor Judge Huerta for his valuable contributions to the profession, and I invite you to see Judge Huerta's gift, which will be permanently displayed in the library.