Hon. Ricardo M. Urbina (Ret.)
(1946-2024)
Former JAMS neutral and retired U.S. District Court Judge Hon. Ricardo M. Urbina passed away on June 17, 2024.
As the first Latino appointed to both the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in 1981 and the United States District Court in Washington, DC in 1994, Judge Urbina was a trailblazer and a civil rights icon known for mentoring generations of Hispanic lawyers and judges. During nearly two decades on the district court, he made landmark rulings on cases involving the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other high-profile federal matters. He joined JAMS after his retirement in 2012, bringing to his ADR practice decades of legal experience and a keen sense of fairness combined with empathy and a penchant for creative solutions.
Judge Urbina was a record-setting track star in high school and at Georgetown University. He attempted to break the color barrier by applying for membership at the New York Athletic Club, the pre-eminent training ground for college graduates aspiring to make the U.S. Olympic team. The rejection of Judge Urbina’s membership application was followed by pickets and boycotts that drew the support of prominent civil rights leaders and is said to have inspired the famous protest by sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympic Games. Judge Urbina said these early civil rights struggles shaped his legal philosophy and prompted him to go to law school to make a change.
Judge Urbina is survived by his wife, Coreen "Corey" Urbina; his son, Ian; his daughter Adrienne; his grandson, Aidan Rusher; and his two brothers, Louis and Alberto.
Judge Urbina’s colleagues and friends will miss his “warmth, authenticity and kindness” and remember him as a role model and dedicated mentor who leaves a legacy of tireless work to promote diversity in the legal profession and ensure equal justice for all.