A Time to Remember.
I remember as a young lawyer we had a political event at our Westside office and there was a good crowd of people. We had free barbeque chicken; beer and it was a great time. The local politicians began making their speeches and I recall how they were asking for the Hispanic vote. This event happen in the late 80’s. The Hispanics were not voting in large numbers. Towards the end of the event, I was given a chance to say something to the crowd. I went up stage and remembered a case I had in Victoria, Texas of an injured roofer who had been injured when he fell from the roof and suffered a hematoma in his brain. He was totally and permanently disabled. I will explain the connection.
You see, fighting cases before juries back then was not an easy thing and neither is it now. Why, may you ask? In my opinion, there is the evil racism that some bring to the jury deliberations, and the key is to try to remove those haters before they get there.
I will return to the political event in a moment. So, the company’s insurance adjuster was a tuff cookie. The good thing about her was that she had been raised on the Westside of San Antonio and could understand the effects of an injured disabled bread winner to a humble family. I remember telling her that I wanted total and permanent disability with lifetime compensation and insurance. She told me you must ask for it in the workers compensation hearing. My client needed the money now, not months or years down the road.
I convinced this adjuster to pay my client the total and permanent disability with lifetime compensation and lifetime insurance coverage. The family was so delighted to say the least. One day, I received a call from a worker who had lost a jury trial back in 1987 or so in Victoria, Texas, and he wanted to hire me because he had heard what I had done for the worker who was totally and permanently disabled. I asked about his case, and he had a good lawyer but the people in Victoria, Texas back then did not award him any compensation in his jury trial. I felt sorry for the worker, but I did not think there was much I could do. I explained the system and told him to hire an Appellate lawyer. He had no money and he kept on honing on the jury, and its make up. He finally stated with a tone of anger that the makeup of the jury was all Anglo. Listen, I love people of all races and religions, but I do not approve of those who hate others because they are intolerant due to race or religion.
I asked him if he was registered to vote? He responded that he was not. I asked him if his friends or any people he knew were registered to vote? He said no. Then, I said you see the law in Texas then was that unless you are a registered voter, you do not get called for jury duty. That’s why it’s so important to register to vote and to vote! He lowered his head and felt the pain of ignorance and we left it at that.
The law has changed now, so that anyone who has a driver’s license can be called for jury duty.

Now, when I was on the stage and the politicians were putting their ideas forward and asking the people to vote. I went to the microphone and told the story of the worker who lost his case to a jury not of his peers only because the worker’s peers were not registered to vote.
The crowd was impressed, and I received offers from some State leaders to run for political office or for a judgeship. I was happy representing working people who got injured and left it at that.
So, you see, don’t ever try to get out of jury service, for you never know when you or your peers may need your presence to render justice! The other matter, that affects our society is that a person who gets convicted of a felony and pays his dues to society cannot vote. Did you know? Well, in my opinion it’s another form of repression, because you cannot serve in a jury, as it was back in the 80’s if you did not vote.
On another note: People imprisoned have points of view that none of us will ever have, and some of us will never know or hear. These people unless they are violent sadistic criminals who do not learn should be allowed to educate us about jail reform and many other issues that is wrong with our criminal justice system. The prison system does not reform but robs the person of time and fails to educate and rehabilitate. Non-Violent prisoners are being destroyed by a criminal justice system that is unjust especially when you have private prisons who are making money at the cost of our society.
Time to bring change in many areas of society!
Roger Z, Guevara
Change is Coming!
Injured? “Llamale a Guevara!”

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Why do we have Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 every year? It is to celebrate the brothers and sisters who have contributed to the heritage of Latino/Mexican Americans in the United States. Many “Hispanic” Americans from different countries have contributed tremendously to the United States especially the American of Mexican descent. The problem is that we don’t hear about it because our true History is not written in the History books. You may wonder why? Well, a lot of it has to do with politics and our Governors, because the Governors appoint people to the Texas Educational Agency who decides what books our kids will read in the public schools and what history will be included in the History books.

My late Vietnam Veteran brother who served honorably with the 1st Calvary Division in the United States Army during the Vietnam War in 1967-1968 and who is no longer with us use to remind me that History means just that “His Story” of the person or persons writing the History books or any book for that matter.

So, if we do not vote in elections and just live and not give a hoot then we have a Hispanic Heritage Month which does not include all the contributions from the military, science, medicine, law, arts, and on and on. Do you know what I am talking about? No vote, no voice, and no recognition! We talk about in with our friends, on Facebook, family gatherings, and other media but the problem is that those in power will not honor the Hispanic for reasons that make no sense. Latin Americans are the most faithful to this country and we are willing to die in the battlefields like no other.

We need to continue to educate ourselves and remember education pays and crime does not!

As we come close to the end of Hispanic Heritage Month remember there were many great Latino/Mexican American leaders, community activist and others who have fought the good fight for you and me, and these people were good and honorable Latinos from all walks of life. There are too many to name here. We have a lot of work to do before we reach the level of having the respect we deserve, and it will not come easy. I think when we are ignorant of other cultures, we become weak. When we discover a Latino Alex Haley who can truly depict the Mexican American, then we will be discovered for who we truly are.

Roger Z. Guevara, Attorney at Law

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I was asked whether I have ever been defeated or felt defeated. I have answered this way. Defeat? Never, ever for I don’t know what defeat means. I have an idea, but my mind does not allow me to think defeat. I don’t even recognize defeat. Never have I felt defeated. I have been slowed down but never defeated. Defeat does not exist for me and I could never accept defeat, because I don’t know what defeat is, so how can I be defeated if defeat does not exist in my mind?

We all go through the same emotions in life having to do with victories and upsets in our lives. Winning and losing is part of life, but I will never know defeat, because I don’t care to know what defeat is. I have the great spirit on myside, and he does not allow defeat. We may be tortured physically and or mentally but never defeated, unless you accept it. I don’t know what that word means, and I don’t care to know. The word defeat does not exist in my mind or my life and never will. Its amazing how one word can instigate so much energy and stimulate so much will power.

It’s like winning, we know that winning is short term, for no victory is forever. There are many challenges in life. You can have many victories. But the only victory that is long lasting is the victory when our soul leaves this earth spiritually, and we arrive at our destiny, then we know that we have won the battle on earth. The battles that we will encounter are normally battles among ourselves.  Our challenges with our adversaries are temporary unless we allow them to be eternal. I choose to let it be like water under the bridge and let the enemies deal with their own challenges themselves. Defeat is not the same as failure. When we fail, we can learn and be victorious again! I have a journey and that journey is one I must take alone until I am victorious!

Roger Z. Guevara A Trial Lawyer “Si se Puede”


*Article published in Street Talk Magazine

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