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NAPABA, AAJC: LORNA SCHOFIELD SUGGESTED FOR SEAT ON THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ed.’s Note: The below is from our friends at

NAPABA logo

AAJC logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAPABA Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202) 775-9555
January 23, 2012
AAJC Contact: Leonie Campbell-Williams (443) 803-1465

LORNA SCHOFIELD SUGGESTED FOR SEAT ON THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) welcomed the news that Senator Charles Schumer of New York has sent the name of Lorna Schofield to the White House to serve as a federal district court judge for the Southern District of New York.

“Lorna Schofield is exceptionally well-qualified to serve as a federal district court judge,” said Tina Matsuoka, executive director of NAPABA. “If nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate, Ms. Schofield would be the first Filipino American in the history of the United States to serve as a federal judge. NAPABA applauds Senator Schumer for putting forward her name and once again confirming his strong commitment to advocating for the greater representation of well-qualified, diverse nominees to the federal judiciary.”

Asian Pacific Americans are significantly underrepresented in the federal judiciary. In the New York City area, approximately ten percent of the population is Asian Pacific American yet of the over 90 active and senior Article III judges currently serving the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, none is Asian Pacific American in the Southern District and only one is Asian Pacific American in the Eastern District.

“We commend Senator Schumer for recognizing both Ms. Schofield’s qualifications and the importance of diversity to the judiciary,” said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of AAJC. “Ms. Schofield has the experience to be an excellent district judge in the Southern District of New York, and we hope that she has the opportunity to do so.”

For almost 20 years, Ms. Schofield has been a litigation partner at the firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she has focused on white collar criminal defense and general civil litigation. She became the firm’s first minority partner in 1991 and since January 2012 has served as Of Counsel. Prior to joining Debevoise, she was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (Criminal Division) for four years. In 2008, Ms. Schofield was named one of the nation’s 50 most influential minority lawyers by the National Law Journal. She was the first Asian Pacific American to chair the Litigation Section of the ABA, which is the ABA’s largest section with over 60,000 members, and has also served as a member of the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary.

Ms. Schofield is a second-generation Filipino American whose life story is a testament to the American story of hard work and perseverance that beats the odds. She was the only child of a Filipina mother who came to the United States during the post-World War II reconstruction of the Philippines. Mother and daughter remained in the Midwest after Ms. Schofield’s father left the family when she was only three years old. She grew up in a blue collar community and received a full tuition scholarship to attend Indiana University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in three years. She went on to attend New York University Law School, where she was an editor of the Law Review and a Pomeroy Scholar.

NAPABA and AAJC applaud Senator Schumer for putting forward Ms. Schofield’s name to serve as a federal district court judge in the Southern District of New York.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 62 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.

The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org), a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, works closely with its sister organizations – the Asian American Institute in Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles – to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities.

Filed Under: New York, Organizations Tagged With:

APABA Congratulates Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen on Historic Nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

September 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is from our friends at the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County. Note also Judy Chu’s press release here.

Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: September 23, 2011
Contact: Christina Yang, (213) 229-5149,

APABA Congratulates Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen on Historic Nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Los Angeles, CA – The Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Los Angeles County congratulates Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen on her historic nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Yesterday, President Barack Obama nominated Judge Nguyen for a seat on the Ninth Circuit, making her the first Vietnamese American and the first Asian Pacific American woman to be nominated for a federal appellate judge position.

“Judge Nguyen’s nomination to the Ninth Circuit is very significant to us,” said Flora Yin, APABA president. “She was a founding member of APABA and served as our second president. Her commitment to access, inclusion, and diversity, however, goes beyond APABA. She has been a member of many minority bars, including the Women Lawyer Association of Los Angeles, the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Orange County, the Korean American Bar Association, the Japanese American Bar Association, and the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association.”

Judge Nguyen has served as a United States District Judge in the Central District of California in Los Angeles since 2009. Before her current appointment, she served as a California Superior Court judge. Her life and accomplishments are distinctly American and emblematic of an immigrant family’s contributions to American society. Born in Dalat, South Vietnam, Judge Nguyen fled with her family to the United States in 1975, settling in California. Her parents had to work several jobs simultaneously to support their children. Often, Judge Nguyen worked alongside them as a child. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, she graduated from Occidental College in 1987 and UCLA School of Law in 1991. She began her career as an associate at Musick, Peeler & Garrett in Los Angeles before joining the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office.

“APABA is thrilled that the President has nominated Judge Nguyen to the Ninth Circuit. She has served the community for years, both on the bench and off. She will truly contribute a valuable viewpoint to the federal appellate court because of her distinctive background and experiences. We look forward to a speedy confirmation by the Senate,” stated Christina Yang, APABA board member.

APABA applauds President Barack Obama for nominating Judge Nguyen to the Ninth Circuit.

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The Asian Pacific American Bar Association was established in 1998 to establish a broad base of membership that is reflective of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Asian/Pacific Islander American community in the greater Los Angeles area.

Filed Under: California, Demographics Tagged With:

NAPABA: Applauds Nomination of Prof. Goodwin Liu to CA Supreme Court

July 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is from our friends at the NAPABA. Refer also to our earlier post “Goodwin Liu Nominated to CA High Court“, our earlier press release “NAPABA Disappointed by Withdrawal of Nomination by Professor Liu, Praises Liu for His Courage” & further coverage at “Jerry Brown nominates Goodwin Liu to California Supreme Court [Updated]“. Liu will now go before the CA Judicial Selection Committee made up of CA Attorney General Kamala Harris, Chief Justice of CA Supreme Court Judge Cantil Sakauye & the senior presiding judge of CA Court of Appeals.

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
1612 K Street N.W., Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Emily Chatterjee
July 26, 2011
(202) 775-9555

NAPABA Applauds the Nomination of Professor Goodwin Liu To The California Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – Today, California Governor Jerry Brown nominated Professor Goodwin H. Liu to become a Justice of the California Supreme Court. Governor Brown’s choice continues his strong belief in diversity. During his first Gubernatorial Administration from 1975 to 1983, Governor Brown appointed the first African American to the California Supreme Court (Justice Wiley Manuel, 1977), the first female and first female Chief Justice to the California Supreme Court (Chief Justice Rose Bird, 1977), the first Hispanic American to the California Supreme Court (Justice Cruz Reynoso, 1982), and the first openly gay judge to any court nationwide (Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephen Lachs, 1979). Professor Liu is the first Asian Pacific American state high court nomination by Governor Brown.

“Governor Brown once again has demonstrated his commitment to diversity by nominating Professor Liu,” stated Paul O. Hirose, president of National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. “Professor Liu is an exceptional attorney who is well-respected by lawyers across the country. His intellect and integrity will add to the prestige of the California Supreme Court.”

Professor Liu is a tenured professor of law at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, where he has taught since 2003. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University, was a Fulbright Scholar at Oxford University, and received his law degree from Yale University School of Law. His long list of accolades includes, among other things, service on the Stanford University Board of Trustees and as a member of the American Law Institute. Professor Liu’s interest in public service and the law was sparked when he served as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives, thanks to the sponsorship of the late Congressman Robert Matsui.

NAPABA applauds Governor Brown for nominating Professor Liu and looks forward to his expeditious confirmation.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 62 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.

Filed Under: California, Demographics, The Editors Tagged With:

NAPABA Disappointed by Withdrawal of Nomination by Professor Liu, Praises Liu for His Courage

May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ed. Note: The below is from our friends at the NAPABA.

Click here to download a PDF copy of the press release.

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

1612 K Street N.W., Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Vincent Eng
May 25, 2011 (703) 981-6636

NAPABA Disappointed by Withdrawal of Nomination by Professor Liu, Praises Liu for His Courage

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) expressed disappointment over the missed opportunity to increase the diversity of the federal appellate courts by confirming the judicial nomination of Professor Goodwin Liu, who today formally notified the White House of his request that his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court be withdrawn. President Obama first nominated Professor Liu on February 24, 2010. Last Thursday, a motion to end debate and allow a vote on the nomination failed to pass in the Senate.

“[W]ith no possibility of a vote on my nomination on the horizon, my family and I have decided that it is time for us to recover the ability to make plans for the future,” Professor Liu wrote in his letter to the President. “In addition, the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit has noted the ‘desperate need for judges’ to fill current vacancies, and in light of last week’s unsuccessful cloture vote, it is clear that continuing my nomination will not address that need any time soon.”

“We thank Professor Liu for his willingness to serve, and applaud his courage and grace during the confirmation process,” said Paul O. Hirose, president of NAPABA. “During five hours of testimony, and through the submission of thousands of pages of documents, Professor Liu demonstrated who he is: an extremely intelligent and exceptional legal scholar and individual. His grace, courage, and equanimity throughout this nomination process has clearly demonstrated the qualities that would have made him an outstanding member of the judiciary. We deeply regret that Professor Liu was not given the chance to serve this country, and it is a true loss for our nation.”

While praising Professor Liu, NAPABA expressed disappointment in both Senate Republicans and Democrats for the failure to confirm Professor Liu. “Last week’s loss would not have occurred had Republicans considered Professor Liu’s record as a whole rather than cherry-picking certain passages and quotes out of context, or if Senate Republicans had chosen to treat judicial filibusters as the poisonous tactics they once sorrowfully – and loudly – bemoaned during the previous Administration,” stated Tina Matsuoka, executive director of NAPABA. “Nor would last week’s loss have occurred had Democrats fulfilled their repeated commitments to bring his nomination to vote during the 111th Congress – including a critical missed opportunity during the lame duck session.”

Wendy Chang, Co-Chair of NAPABA’s Judiciary Committee, also noted that “there is no shortage of prominent, well-credentialed, and extraordinarily qualified Asian Pacific American attorneys who should be considered for various federal courts of appeals across the country. We believe that any number of them would receive swift support from both sides of the aisle. We see no reason why they would not be confirmed swiftly. And so we see no reason why they should not be considered for nomination as soon as possible.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 61 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.

Filed Under: Congress, Democratic Party, Demographics, Obama Administration, Republican Party Tagged With:

NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Alicia G. Limtiaco for US Attorney of Guam & N Mariana Islands

March 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

AAJC: Advancing Equality

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

1612 K Street N.W., Suite 1400

Washington, DC 20006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brian Wang

March 3, 2010

(202) 775-9555

NAPABA APPLAUDS NOMINATION OF ALICIA G. LIMTIACO TO SERVE AS UNITED STATES ATTORNEY OF GUAM AND NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

Washington, D.C. – On February 24, Alicia G. Limtiaco was nominated by President Obama to serve as the United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.  If confirmed, Limtiaco will become the first-ever woman to serve as a United States Attorney for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and she will become only the third Asian Pacific American United States Attorney currently serving in the country.

“Ms. Limtiaco has succeeded at every stage of her career as a criminal prosecutor, civil litigator and public servant,” said Joseph J. Centeno, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “She will be an excellent U.S. Attorney.”

Limtiaco is the current Attorney General of Guam.  She is the first-ever woman to serve as Guam’s Attorney General, and only the second individual to be elected to the position, which was a gubernatorial appointment until 2002.  Limtiaco also served in the Office of the Attorney General of Guam as the Deputy Attorney General and as an Assistant Attorney General for over seven years between 1991 and 2000.

Limtiaco began her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Benjamin J. F. Cruz of the Superior Court of Guam from 1990 to 1991.  She worked in private practice for over eight years with various law firms and was a Partner at Limtiaco, Cruz & Sison, P.L.L.C.  Limtiaco has served as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Guam and for the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at Guam Community College.

NAPABA applauds President Obama for nominating Limtiaco and thanks Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo for recommending Limtiaco.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 63 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.

Filed Under: Demographics, Local Politics, Obama Administration Tagged With: ,