The Honorable Nelson A. Diaz has had a career that embodies the commitment to diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. Diaz is a former Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. His personal life, trailblazing legal career, and commitment to diversity are a testament to the American dream. He was born in New York City to a single mother. He grew up in public housing in Harlem. Diaz graduated from St. John’s University and then attended Temple Law School becoming the first Latino to pass the Pennsylvania Bar Examination.
Subsequently, President Carter appointed Diaz to the prestigious White House Fellows program, where served as a Special Assistant to Vice-President Walter Mondale and helped to establish the Office of Latino Affairs in the White House.
Diaz developed a Latino business district and aided in the creation of opportunities for minority contractors in Philadelphia. He became the first Latino Judge in the State and was the first person of color to serve as Administrative Judge, where he reformed the court system.
President Clinton appointed Diaz General Counsel for HUD. In that role, he not only settled 23 major housing desegregation cases totaling $6 billion but transformed Public Housing by writing an opinion that permitted mixed financing vehicles to revitalize public housing. Diaz created the Legal Honors Intern Program which increased the number of minority lawyers at HUD from 5 to 50.
Judge Diaz served on the Advisory Council of PNC Bank, the founding Board of Hispanics in Energy, and the founding of Legal Aid at Temple Law School. He has served on the Boards of Trustees of Temple Hospital, Temple University, Exelon Corporation, Legg Mason Family of Funds, and PECO.
Diaz is a Fulbright Scholar and has received numerous local, regional, national, and international awards for his Civil and Human rights accomplishments. President Obama appointed Diaz to the Commission on White House Fellows.
Judge Diaz has three children and 6 grandchildren.