FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2016
Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director (212) 332-2478
NEW YORK — September 14, 2016 — The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) welcomes and applauds President Barack Obama’s nomination, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s recommendation, of Diane Gujarati to serve as a federal district court judge in the Eastern District of New York. “We commend President Obama and Senator Gillibrand for this nomination,” said Susan Shin, President of AABANY. “We have come to know Diane well through her active involvement with AABANY on various committees and now as a member of our Board. The combination of her intelligence, work ethic, keen judgment and commitment to serving the community will make her an exceptional federal judge. AABANY’s Prosecutor’s Committee honored Diane this past June for her service and distinguished career at the U.S. Attorney’s office.”
Asian Pacific Americans (“APAs”) are significantly under-represented in the Federal Judiciary, including in New York State. If confirmed, Ms. Gujarati will be the first Article III judge of South Asian descent in the Second Circuit. “We are thrilled with President Obama’s historic nomination of Ms. Gujarati to the federal bench,” said Linda Lin, Co-chair of AABANY’s Judiciary Committee. “We hope the Senate will vote to confirm her soon.”
Ms. Gujarati began her legal career by serving as a law clerk to the Honorable John M. Walker, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She then worked as a litigator at Davis Polk & Wardwell before beginning a dedicated, lengthy career in public service. In 1999, Ms. Gujarati joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Office’s Criminal Division. Since April 2012, Ms. Gujarati has served as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. She previously served as Deputy Chief and then Chief of the White Plains Division and as Deputy Chief of the Appeals Unit in the Criminal Division. In addition to her work as a federal prosecutor, Ms. Gujarati is an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at New York University School of Law. Ms. Gujarati also serves as an AABANY board member and is an active member of several AABANY committees. Ms. Gujarati graduated summa cum laude from Barnard College of Columbia University and received her J.D. from Yale Law School.
For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (212) 332-2478, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].
The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole. AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).
Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org
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