Deukmejian to Keynote Dinner for Arguelles

Gov. George Deukmejian will be keynote speaker tonight at a dinner honoring John A. Arguelles of Irvine, the second Latino ever to sit on the California Supreme Court.

More than 450 people are expected to attend the event in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Arguelles, who was appointed to the court in February by Deukmejian, will be celebrating his 60th birthday.

The event was organized by Rudolph Castro of Yorba Linda, chairman of the state Board of Prison Terms and an Arguelles friend. Joining Castro in planning the event is a cross-section of Latino business, professional and political leaders from throughout the state. Danny Villanueva of KMEX (Ch. 34) will be master of ceremonies. Entertainment will be provided by comedian Paul Rodriguez and Andy Russell and his band.

“I’ve never seen a statewide coalition of organizations and Hispanic leadership of this type hold an event in Orange County of this magnitude,” Orange County Supervisor Gadie Vasquez said. “It’s a good program for a good person.”

Arguelles, a former Montebello city councilman, first was appointed to the Municipal Court bench in East Los Angeles by former Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown in 1963. Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed him to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1969; Deukmejian elevated him to the Court of Appeal 15 years later.