Month: June 2016

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EFiling – N.Y. State Courts

EFiling – N.Y. State Courts

New Mandatory E-filing Programs Proposed 

The Office of Court Administration is seeking comment from interested members of the legal profession and the public concerning proposals for new mandatory programs of electronic filing. 

REQUESTS for PUBLIC COMMENT

Comment by June 30, 2016: 
Albany County Supreme Court. All new Tax Certiorari matters to be electronically filed, effective July 13, 2016. (Proposed May 17, 2016)

Comment by June 27, 2016:
Queens County Supreme Court. All new commercial cases including but not limited to contract, insurance, Uniform Commercial Code and corporate matters, to be electronically filed, effective July 13, 2016. (Proposed May 2, 2016) 

Email to: [email protected]

For more information click the link in the title.

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Organizational Statement | NAPABA Denounces Donald Trump’s Racist Attacks on Judges


Organizational Statement

For Immediate Release
June 7, 2016

                                                  For More Information, Contact:
                                                  Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
                                                  [email protected], 202-775-9555

NAPABA Denounces Donald Trump’s Racist Attacks on Judges

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) denounces Donald Trump’s recent remarks accusing Judge Gonzalo Curiel of partiality because he is of Mexican descent. Judge Curiel, who was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrant parents, currently serves on the United States District Court of the Southern District of California. Mr. Trump has claimed that Judge Curiel should be disqualified from adjudicating a case to which Mr. Trump is a party because Judge Curiel is “Mexican” and because Mr. Trump believes that his support of the building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border creates “an inherent conflict of interest” with the judge. Mr. Trump later expanded his position to include Muslim judges, whom Mr. Trump believes would be unable to preside fairly over cases to which he is a party because of his public policy positions.

Judges should not be accused of unfair bias because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion. When Donald Trump questions the independence, fairness, and impartiality of a judge simply because he is the son of immigrants or adheres to a particular religion, he sends a strong message to the American people against diversity in the judiciary and he undermines public trust in the rule of law.

“NAPABA has never endorsed a Presidential candidate, and does not intend to do so this year,” said NAPABA President Jin Y. Hwang. “We speak out against Donald Trump because his remarks calling into question the ability of judges to be fair and impartial based on their ethnic background or religion are contemptible. This critique is not about politics — it is about fundamental respect for the judicial branch and those who serve in it. The fact that the comments came from a Presidential campaign podium only serves to make the comments even more disturbing — and dangerous.”

Unfortunately, similar charges have been made against respected Asian Pacific American jurists. In MacDraw Inc. v. CIT Group Equipment Financing Inc., 138 F.3d 33 (2d Cir. 1998), lawyers criticized Judge Denny Chin for alleged bias due to his ethnicity. Fortunately, the reviewing court condemned the charges and Chief Judge Ralph Winter of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals — one of the most respected jurists ever appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan — made clear that the race of a judge is an impermissible basis for attacking a judge’s impartiality, and even went so far as to approve sanctions against the attorneys by forbidding them from ever appearing again in federal court in New York.

As the national representative of Asian Pacific American lawyers and judges, NAPABA strongly rejects the notion that judges of diverse backgrounds are unable to fulfill their Constitutional duties in a fair and impartial manner. Asian Pacific American judges from varied and different backgrounds ably serve as fair and impartial jurists who are dedicated to the fair application of the rule of law in the United States and they should not be subjected to speculative and unfounded attacks based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at202-775-9555 or [email protected].

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 approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services 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 the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

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PRESS RELEASE | NAPABA Celebrates Confirmation of Jennifer Choe Groves to U.S. Court of International Trade

For Immediate Release
June 7, 2016

For More Information, Contact​​:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
202-775-9555; [email protected]

NAPABA Celebrates Confirmation of Jennifer Choe Groves to U.S. Court of International Trade

WASHINGTON — Last night, the Senate confirmed Jennifer Choe Groves by unanimous consent to the U.S. Court of International Trade. She will be the first Asian Pacific American judge to serve on this court.

“We congratulate Jennifer Choe Groves on her historic confirmation as the first Asian Pacific American judge to serve on the U.S. Court of International Trade,” said NAPABA President Jin Y. Hwang. “As a longtime NAPABA member and a NAPABA Law Foundation Board member, Ms. Groves is an esteemed leader in the Asian Pacific American legal community. NAPABA is proud to have supported her nomination, and we applaud President Obama for nominating her and the Senate for confirming her.” 

The U.S. Court of International Trade, an Article III court, has nationwide jurisdiction over civil actions arising out of U.S. customs and international trade laws. Appointments to the U.S. Court of International Trade are lifetime appointments.

Groves was the chief executive officer of Titanium Law Group PLLC and Choe Groves Consulting LLC, where she provided consulting and legal services in the areas of international trade and intellectual property. Previously, she was a partner at the law firms of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, and Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP. Groves also has served as the Senior Director of Intellectual Property and Innovation in the Office of the United States Trade Representative in the Executive Office of the President. Earlier in her career, she was an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Fish & Neave LLP (now Ropes & Gray LLP), and the District Attorney’s Office of New York County.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].

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 50,000 attorneys and over 75 national, state, and local bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA engages in legislative and policy advocacy, promotes Asian Pacific American political leadership and political appointments, and builds coalitions within the legal profession and the community at large. NAPABA also serves as a resource for government agencies, members of Congress, and public service organizations about Asian Pacific Americans in the legal profession, civil rights, and diversity in the courts.

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 the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 510 | Washington, D.C. 20006 | www.napaba.org

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NAPABA Membership for AABANY Members

Your AABANY membership includes membership with NAPABA, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, of which we are the New York affiliate. However, you must register or renew separately to receive the NAPABA Affiliate membership.

Please email Margaret Langston, [email protected] to receive the instructions and code for registration or renewal of your NAPABA 2016 Affiliate membership.