CABA celebrates historic dedication of Osvaldo N. Soto Justice Center
History and pride filled downtown Miami on November 10 as the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) celebrated the opening of the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, the state’s first courthouse to bear the name of a Hispanic Floridian.
“Today marks a milestone for our community, not only the opening of a beautiful new courthouse, but to recognize a man whose life’s work help shaped the Miami we know today,” said Amanda Fernandez, president of CABA. “This is especially meaningful because it is the first courthouse in Florida to be named after a Hispanic individual.”
As part of the celebration, Fernandez presented a portrait of Osvaldo N. Soto, a gift from CABA to the people of Miami-Dade County, that will hang in the new courthouse.
A founding member of CABA and one of its past presidents, Soto fought against discriminatory laws that targeted minorities. He was a civil rights advocate and lifelong defender of equality and justice for the Hispanic and minority communities in South Florida.
His personal experiences as a Cuban exile gave him an understanding of the struggles that immigrants faced and an empathy that fueled his relentless fight for civil rights, according to CABA. After participating in the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 as a member of the Assault Brigade 2506, and subsequently through his involvement in CABA, and as president of the Spanish American League Against Discrimination which he co-founded, Soto focused his life’s work on combating discrimination based on race and ethnicity. His advocacy also extended to legislative battles, most notably his role in overturning the divisive English-only ordinance passed in 1980.
A reception followed the ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Miami-Dade County and in collaboration with the 11th Judicial Circuit, and the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller.
The 23-story Justice Center replaces the historic Miami-Dade County Courthouse, which has served the community since 1928. The new Justice Center features 46 fully equipped courtrooms and four additional shelled courtrooms to support future expansion.
