Mark I. Harrison Excellence in Mentorship Award

Created in December 2021, the Mark I. Harrison Excellence in Mentorship Award is presented to a legal professional who has devoted extraordinary energy and sustained attention to mentoring others in the legal community, who has avidly promoted the development and careers of individuals from diverse and historically underrepresented groups in the legal profession, and who has inspired and fostered engagement of others in activities that reflect the highest ethics and ideals of the legal profession, such as significant pro bono, public and community service.

2023 Recipient

Hon. (ret.) Mina Méndez
Mina Méndez was born in Phoenix and grew up in Phoenix and Mexico City. She graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1995 and is the first law school graduate in her family. Mina has served as the Chair of the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency since November 2020.

Mina served as a Superior Court Commissioner from 2004 to 2013. She served as a Judge pro tem for the Superior Court and as a private mediator from 2013-2017. Before her appointment to the bench, Mina worked in the private sector and served as an Assistant Attorney General representing Child Protective Services, the predecessor to the Department of Child Safety for six years.

Mina is one of the coordinators for the Latina Mentoring Project, a statewide mentoring and networking program that was founded by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Murguia. Mina is a long-time member of Los Abogados and the Arizona Women Lawyers Association. In 2019 she received the Los Abogados Exemplary Service Award and in 2022, The Latina Mentoring Project was the recipient of the Los Abogados Community Service Award.