HUTCHINSON, Kan. – An informational meeting sponsored by the Citizens for the Moderation of our Democracy known as the MOD Squad is scheduled for Monday, April 25, 2016 in the Theatre of the Shears Technology Building on the Hutchinson Community College campus.
“Judicial Independence?” will feature panel speakers Mr. Pedro Irigonegaray and House Representative Steve Becker.
Irigonegaray was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to the United States in 1961 as a political refugee with his mother at the age of 12. He was raised in Topeka, and graduated high school from Kemper Military Academy in Boonville, Mo in 1966. He earned his Bachelors in Business Administration from Washburn University in 1970, and his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in 1973. He is a litigation lawyer who practices in the following areas of expertise: tort litigation, civil rights, professional malpractice, constitutional law, regulatory law, and criminal law.
Representative Becker is the product of the Buhler school system; earned his BBA at Washburn University and graduated from Washburn University School of Law with his Juris Doctorate in 1975. He’s been in the private practice of law in Hutchinson; appointed Judge of the District Court of Reno County in 1981, retiring in 2007; and has served as State Representative for the 104th legislative district since 2013 serving on the Judiciary, Corrections & Juvenile Justice, Federal & State Affairs committees. He and his wife continue to reside on the family farm outside of Buhler where he has always lived.
They’ll be discussing the current legislative attempts to do away with the judicial branch of our state government.
The MOD Squad is looking for moderate-minded people who would like to work to bring our state back to a more balanced legislature.