On Tuesday, May 30th, AABANY co-hosted Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer’s For the Public Good, a discussion among three prominent Asian Pacific Americans serving in each branch of the federal government. In a conversation moderated by Susan L. Shin (Partner at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer and Immediate Past President of AABANY), the panel included: Joon Kim, Acting U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York; the Honorable Judge Denny Chin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second District; and Representative Grace Meng for the 6th District of New York and the Vice-Chair for the Democratic National Committee.
Each panelist discussed his or her differing career path in public service. In addition to explaining their origins of their interest in furthering the public good, the panelists also recounted the challenges they faced as Asian Pacific Americans. The panel noted the lack of Asian Pacific Americans, or minorities in general, within government. They encouraged the steps that the audience – law students and partners alike – could take to achieve greater minority representation within the highest echelons of government.
AABANY would like to thank all three esteemed panelists and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer for hosting the discussion in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Write up by AABANY intern Quentin Wong. See the live-tweet from the event below.
“For the Public Good” is on fourth floor of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer at 250 W. 55th St. Can’t wait to hear from Hon. Denny Chin!
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President-elect James Cho introduces the panel: Hon. Denny Chin, Acting US Attorney Joon Kim and moderator… https://t.co/dIIra2557t
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As a law clerk, Joon Kim witnessed some of the best lawyers appear as Assistant US Attorneys before his judge. #comeup #usattorney
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Susan Shin recounts that Joon Kim and Preet Bharara were called “Harold and Kumar” at the US Atty’s office. Jun… https://t.co/t4XUox8OTX
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“First lesson: If you don’t do well in law school, there’s always politics. Second lesson: Make good friends.” @RepGraceMeng
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As a young political intern, @RepGraceMeng remembers a voter telling her that they would never elect an Asian in Queens. #seniorwhip #comeup
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“Pres. Obama nominated more Asian Americans to the bench than all other presidents combined. We’re still only at 26 out of over 800.”
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There are currently 11 vacancies in the Second Circuit, and 9 vacancies in the Southern District of New York. #judgeship #federalbench
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“We need more diverse applicants in the SDNY.” Feel free to pick up Neil Corwin’s business card from Joon Kim at #ForThePublicGood
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Pretty full house. Thanks, everyone, for coming out #apaheritagemonth @ 250 West 55th Street
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An immigrant himself, Hon. Denny Chin grew up in public schools and his working-class family instilled a spirit of service in him.
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On @RepGraceMeng’s motivation to pursue public office: “I asked myself, if I wasn’t there to represent my community, then who would be?”
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The son of a Korean diplomat, Joon saw being a prosecutor as a way to serve his country and community. He chose litigation over corporate.
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Immediate Past President Susan Shin asks, “How can we convince more Asian law students to apply for clerkships?”
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“It’s hard to be what you don’t know. It’s hard to be what you don’t see.” –@RepGraceMeng on the importance of role models
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Judge Chin recounts the time at his judicial interview when he was asked, “Do you have a belt?” #stereotypes… https://t.co/6iPIcL7qMz
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Lit Comm Co-Chair James Shih asks the first question from the audience: “What can we do to increase the number of… https://t.co/aoJXB6Xp8p
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Judge Pamela Chen attests that you have to help young lawyers and law students "catch the litigation bug!” #APALSA #legalclinics #mootcourt
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“There’s no Democratic or Republican way to prosecute a robbery.” -Joon Kim on working in the Justice Department during tumultuous times
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“What do you enjoy? What are you good at? Hopefully, those things will come together when making career choices.” – Hon. Denny Chin
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“No one wants to work with someone who is not willing to do some amount of drudgery. You won’t get very far as a lawyer.” -Joon Kim
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After a great panel discussion with Acting US Atty Kim, Judge Chin and Rep. Meng, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer… https://t.co/nWDJb8Yku2
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.@aabany hosts “Taking Charge and Leading Change” discussion on working toward benefitting the public good https://t.co/vzQ4pWsZm2 pic.twitter.com/gzqGqnpfIz
— New York Law Journal (@NYLawJournal)