Nelson Diaz
Encyclopedia
Nelson Diaz is a United States lawyer who has been a Philadelphia city solicitor, a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
, and General Counsel to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He was mentioned as a possible HUD Secretary in the Obama Administration, before Obama announced that Shaun Donovan
was his pick for the position.
in Harlem
, New York
. He graduated from St. John's University in New York City with a B.S. in accounting in 1969, having worked his way through school. He earned a J.D.
from Temple University
in 1972 – the first Puerto Rican to receive that degree at that University.
on a White House Fellowship in 1977. He was elected as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, from 1981 to 1993, and was also a lecturer at the Temple University School of Law from 1983 to 1992. Bill Clinton appointed him HUD General Counsel in 1993, and he served in that position, under Secretary Henry Cisneros
, throughout Clinton's first term. Diaz worked for Mayor
John Street
as the Philadelphia City Solicitor from December 2001 through January 2004.
LLP from February 1997 until he joined the Street Administration in 2001. Later, he rejoined Black Rome and served there from March 2004 through May 2007.He has served as Of Counsel to Cozen O'Connor
, a Philadelphia based law firm, since May 2007.
A director of Exelon
since January 27, 2004, Diaz serves on the risk oversight, energy delivery oversight and generation oversight committees. He also serves as a director of PECO Energy Company
, an Exelon subsidiary.
(1982–1993), the Philadelphia Independent Charter Commission (1992–1993), and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (1997–2002), and the Pan American Association (2001- ).
Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
The Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania .The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state....
, and General Counsel to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He was mentioned as a possible HUD Secretary in the Obama Administration, before Obama announced that Shaun Donovan
Shaun Donovan
Shaun L.S. Donovan is the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, serving in the cabinet of President Barack Obama. Prior to this he headed the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development...
was his pick for the position.
Education
Diaz grew up in public housingPublic housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He graduated from St. John's University in New York City with a B.S. in accounting in 1969, having worked his way through school. He earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in 1972 – the first Puerto Rican to receive that degree at that University.
Public service
Diaz served as a special assistant to Vice President Walter MondaleWalter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
on a White House Fellowship in 1977. He was elected as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, from 1981 to 1993, and was also a lecturer at the Temple University School of Law from 1983 to 1992. Bill Clinton appointed him HUD General Counsel in 1993, and he served in that position, under Secretary Henry Cisneros
Henry Cisneros
Henry Gabriel Cisneros is a politician and businessman. A Democrat, Cisneros served as the 10th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997...
, throughout Clinton's first term. Diaz worked for Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
John Street
John Street
-People:* John Ambrose Street , Canadian lawyer and political figure in New Brunswick* John F. Street, former mayor of Philadelphia* John Street * John Street, birth name of Welsh boxer Cuthbert Taylor-Ontario, Canada:...
as the Philadelphia City Solicitor from December 2001 through January 2004.
Private sector
As a young lawyer, Diaz worked at Fell, Spaulding, Goff and Rubin (1976–1977) and Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen (1978–1981). After leaving the Clinton Administration, Diaz was partner of the law firm Blank RomeBlank Rome
Blank Rome LLP, formerly known as Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley, is a full-service international law and government affairs firm. It is ranked as the 84th largest law firm in the United States in terms of revenue, according to the AmLaw 100 Survey...
LLP from February 1997 until he joined the Street Administration in 2001. Later, he rejoined Black Rome and served there from March 2004 through May 2007.He has served as Of Counsel to Cozen O'Connor
Cozen O'Connor
Cozen O'Connor P.C. is a large U.S. law firm based in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm was ranked 99th on the AmLaw 100 Survey in 2011, ranked 114th on the AmLaw 200 Survey in 2008, and ranked 89th on the National Law Journal's list of the 250 Largest American Law Firms in 2007...
, a Philadelphia based law firm, since May 2007.
A director of Exelon
Exelon
Exelon Corporation is an electricity generating and distributing company headquartered in the Chase Tower in the Chicago Loop area of Chicago. It was created in October, 2000 by the merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom, of Philadelphia and Chicago respectively. Unicom owned Commonwealth Edison...
since January 27, 2004, Diaz serves on the risk oversight, energy delivery oversight and generation oversight committees. He also serves as a director of PECO Energy Company
PECO Energy Company
PECO is an energy company founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1929. It became part of Exelon Corporation in 2000 when it merged with Unicom. The company has approximately 2,300 employees; its call center and field craft personnel are members of IBEW Local 614...
, an Exelon subsidiary.
Non-profit memberships and community involvement
Diaz founded the first organization devoted to black and Hispanic law students at Temple University while he was a student there, and he has been a member of Temple's Board of Trustees since 1992. Having been the first Puerto Rican to be admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 1973, he later succeeded Cesar R. Miranda as executive director for the Spanish Merchants Association of Philadelphia, a self-help group for Hispanics who own or aspire to own businesses. His board and committee memberships include the Free Library of PhiladelphiaFree Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:History of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Initiated by the efforts of Dr...
(1982–1993), the Philadelphia Independent Charter Commission (1992–1993), and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (1997–2002), and the Pan American Association (2001- ).
External links
- The Nelson A. Diaz Papers, containing an extensive collection of materials, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.