AABANY STATEMENT REGARDING MEDIA COVERAGE OF RECENT STOP & FRISK DECISIONS

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) joins the New York County Lawyer’s Association in their support of New York’s judiciary, judicial independence, and against the improper personal attacks leveled by the New York Post and the Daily News against judges for their decisions in recent stop and frisk cases.

In recent weeks, judges who have ruled on stop and frisk cases have been derided, vilified, and subjected to improper personal accusations. In the face of the judiciary’s attempt to meet its constitutional responsibilities, the New York Post and Daily News have described the decisions as “judicially mandated lawlessness,” accused the judges of bias against the NYPD, called certain judges “insane,” and engaged in fear-mongering tactics such as asserting a descent into “anarchy.” In particular, Justices Peter Tom, Nelson Roman, and Karla Moskowitz, as a result of their Appellate Division decision in the Matter of Darryl C., have been the subject of repeated, unfair, and jarring personal attacks. One Daily News, July 4, 2012 editorial headline went as far as calling the decisions a “death sentence for N.Y.” Furthermore, a July 16, 2012 Daily News editorial suggests that a dissenting opinion, written by Justice Peter Tom, in a stop and frisk judicial decision, urged individuals to “punch a cop, win case.” This is simply a misrepresentation of the opinion cited by the editorial and omits many important facets to the logic and reasoning behind the dissenting opinion. While the issue is hotly contested and reasonable minds will differ with the judicial decisions rendered in the area, these inflammatory attacks are unfair, baseless, and threaten judicial independence.

An independent, well-functioning judicial system, accessible to all, is a bedrock principle of our democracy. Personal attacks against judges, distortions of the facts and context of judicial decisions, and sensationalistic journalism designed to inflame the public threaten judicial independence and the credibility of our democracy. Judges make difficult decisions everyday and while public criticism of the judiciary is an integral part of our democratic society, attacks of this nature threaten the integrity of the
judicial system and our government as a whole.


The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) 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). To learn more about AABANY, visit www.aabany.org.

© 2012 Asian American Bar Association of New York. All rights reserved.

Apply for Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service (FELPS)

Applications for the FELPS Class of 2013 Are Now Being Accepted!

The Research Center for Leadership in Action at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service is now accepting applications for the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service

The fellowship offers a chance for a diverse group of leaders early in their public service careers to:

  • Deepen their understanding of the public service landscape through discussions with senior leaders in the field and Career and Alumni Guides who serve as mentors over the course of the program;
  • Gain a clear assessment of their leadership strengths and style and develop their leadership knowledge and skills;
  • Think strategically about and plan for their careers based on personal assessments and their unique goals; and
  • Build a support network of other talented, dynamic leaders in public service.

The program begins in November 2012 and runs through May 2013.  Fellowship sessions twice each month offer structured leadership and professional development opportunities to help Fellows define their path in public service. Program elements include:

Speaker Series. Fellows hear from senior executives across the spectrum of public service organizations. Speakers offer insights into their own career trajectories and guidance on practical strategies for succeeding in public service.

Personal Exploration. Fellows engage in workshops that help them explore their strengths, interests and goals, and they develop a personalized career plan. 

Fellows Network. One of the most valuable resources and sources of support for fellows as they move through their public service careers is the other extraordinary fellows. From the very beginning of the fellowship, participants have the opportunity to get to know each other through various events and peer-learning activities in small groups. Upon completion of the program, fellows become part of a professional alumni network of more than 200 people.

To be eligible for the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service, you must be working full-time in public service in New York City. (Internships and part-time work don’t meet this requirement.) You may not currently be engaged in another significant fellowship program, and you must commit to attending all fellowship sessions, including a day-long Orientation on Saturday, November 10, 2012. The program is fee is $500, which must be paid in full upon acceptance. Please see the Web site for additional details and guidelines. The deadline to apply is noon EST on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.

More information and the application are available at:

http://wagner.nyu.edu/felps