Roy Cazares

Judge Roy B. Cazares was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1942, and immigrated to the U.S. with his large family. His father worked as a mechanical engineer during WWII, and of his 5 brothers served in the military. In 1975, he married Maria Sanchez, raising four daughters and cherishing his 13 grandchildren.

Despite dropping out of high school in 11th grade, he earned his diploma through adult school while working at a leather factory. He later joined the Army, serving in Germany during the Cuban Missile Crisis and working as a translator. After his return, he pursued higher education at Southwestern College, then San Diego State University (SDSU), where he became an activist, advocating for disadvantaged Mexican-American communities.

He continued his education at Harvard Law School, where he championed Latino representation in legal studies. Passing the California Bar in 1973, he built a successful legal career, notably defending wrongfully terminated SDPD officers of color. In 1982, he and Jerry Lopez won a Supreme Court case (Rivera vs. City of Riverside) that set fair pay standards for attorneys representing low-income clients.

Appointed a Municipal Judge in California, he later became a Superior Court Judge in 1998, known for his fairness and refusal to impose excessively harsh sentences. He was a founding member and president of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, which grew from 12 members to over 400, offering scholarships to Latino law students.

After retirement in 2002, he remained active in community service. His legacy was honored in 2024 with Judge Cazares Day, recognized by multiple cities. A true trailblazer, his contributions continue to inspire.