Did you ever meet Judge Frances Muñoz? Es una heroína – a true poderosa – professionally and personally.

 

​Judge Frances Muñoz's story ought to be told, to law students and to judges, to elected officials and to comadres de familia, to those currently doubting their place in this country. From her farmworker beginnings to her becoming the first Latina trial court judge in the United States, Judge Muñoz is an inspiration to many - and ought to be to many more.

​​​

In 2019, ReGeneración, through co-founder Camilo Romero, began a collaborative effort to celebrate Judge Muñoz every fall, to coincide with her birthday. The annual celebratory event would help ensure her story is told and celebrated for generations to come. The event is modeled on the annual endowed lecture hosted by New York University School of Law and its alumni of color association honoring the beloved, late Professor Derrick Bell who was a pioneer in civil rights advocacy and critical race pedagogy (and a mentor to Camilo).

​

On September 17, 2020, Judge Muñoz's 90th birthday, ReGeneración and the University of New Mexico School of Law celebrated her across various time zones in spite of the pandemic. You can witness her reaction and hear her words here. The nascent mural in that birthday celebration became the now well-known Poderosas Mural that features Judge Muñoz along with other local Latina trailblazers, which has spawned other Poderosas murals around the country.

​​

On October 17, 2022, Judge Frances Muñoz passed away at the age of 92. She left a deep void in the hearts of many and a tall shadow over the legal profession, reminding us:

​

“Being the first is not as important as not being the last. The legal profession, particularly the bench, still has a long way to go to reflect our community. Perhaps then the contributions of our immigrant families will truly be valued.”

​

The Los Angeles Times covered her life and legacy in this article.

​​​​

Since Judge Muñoz's passing, ReGeneración has convened and collaborated with family, friends, colleagues, and admirers of Judge Muñoz to institutionalize her annual celebration.

​​​​

Our inaugural celebration took place on October 12, 2023 at Santa Ana College with over 150 student, faculty, and community attendees featuring an intergenerational panel of advocates – Ret. Judge Frederick Aguirre, Judge Elizabeth Macías, Professor Camilo Romero, and attorney Amber Poston – who were mentored by Judge Muñoz.

​​

Our second annual celebration took place on October 16, 2024 at the U.S. federal courthouse in Santa Ana with distinguished guests featuring appellate lawyer Mary-Christine Sungaila and her author mother Jane.

​​​

Our third annual celebration took place on October 30, 2025 at the Orange County Department of Education in Costa Mesa as a live reenactment of oral arguments featuring descendants of the five plaintiff mothers – Mary Luisa Estrada, Virginia Guzmán, Felicitas Méndez, Irene Palomino, Josefina Ramirez – from the historic school integration case Méndez, et al. v. Westminster School District, et al.

​​

2026: Celebrating the Madrina de La Lucha, Dolores Huerta - “¡Sí Se Puede!”

 

Our fourth annual Poderosa Celebration honors a living legend and the matriarca del movimiento: Dolores Huerta.

​

Join us on Sunday, November 15, 2026 in downtown Santa Ana, California for the premiere of the acclaimed live stage play “¡Sí Se Puede!” The performance tells the dynamic story of Dolores Huerta, from teacher, to organizer, to cultural icon as a powerful woman who reminds us that victory is in the struggle.

 

The performance will be followed by a conversation with Dolores Huerta joined by an intergenerational panel of local Latina organizers and advocates who continue her example.

 

As always, the celebration is free, bilingual, and open to all ages. Thank you to our proud sponsors. Space is limited. Please register here.

​

 

​

 

​

​

Judge Frances Muñoz and Dolores Huerta met in October 2018, pictured here with a fellow Poderosa, Cristina Prada, at Chapman University.