Month: June 2026

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AABANY’s Judiciary Committee Hosts 2026 Annual Judges’ Reception at The Nexus Club

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Judiciary Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) welcomed over 90 guests to its Annual Judges’ Reception at The Nexus Club located at 100 Church Street, New York, NY 10007. 

The event brought together members of the judiciary, attorneys, government officials, law students, and community leaders to celebrate judges who were appointed, elected, or elevated within the past year.

Organized by AABANY’s Judiciary Committee, co-chaired by Mark Son and David Mou, the evening highlighted AABANY’s continued commitment to diversity, mentorship, and advancement within the legal profession and in the judiciary. 

The program began with opening remarks from Judiciary Committee Co-Chair Mark Son, followed by remarks from distinguished leaders representing the bench, government, and the bar.

Featured speakers included AABANY President Varuna Bhattacharyya and Hon. Frances Wang, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court. Justice Wang, who is also Vice President of the Asian American Judges Association of New York, spoke about the importance of building a judiciary that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves and emphasized the impact of representation on public confidence in the legal system. 

Additional remarks were delivered by Ali Najmi, Chair of New York City’s Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, and Kenan Kurt, Assistant Counsel for Judiciary and Ethics for the New York State Governor’s Office. Mr. Najmi underscored the Mayor’s commitment to create a more a diverse judiciary and stated that he is ready to work hard.  Mr. Kurt compared the pioneer judges to the first athlete who broke the four-minute mile, shattering barriers and inspiring others to follow. Just as that achievement opened the door for future runners to accomplish the same feat, we celebrate the judges whose leadership and perseverance are making “four-minute miles” possible for those who come after them.

Hon. Karen Lin, Associate Justice of the Appellate Term for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, reflected on the progress Asian Americans have made within the legal community while encouraging continued mentorship and support for future generations seeking judicial office.

The evening also featured a Presentation of Awards by event co-chairs Lisa Lin and Kwok Ng, along with citations presented by Mr. Kurt on behalf of the Governor’s Office. Honorees recognized during the reception included:

  • Hon. Margaret Chan
  • Hon. Janice Chen
  • Hon. Eve Cho Guillergan
  • Hon. Sheridan Chu
  • Hon. Indira Khan
  • Hon. Jay Kim
  • Hon. Judy Kim
  • Hon. Karen Lin
  • Hon. Nabeela McLeod
  • Hon. Juliette-Noor Haji
  • Hon. Oma Phillips Deonarine
  • Hon. Soma Syed
  • Hon. Kris Singh
  • Hon. Frances Wang

Following the formal program, guests gathered for a dinner reception that provided an opportunity for judges, attorneys, students, and community leaders to connect and celebrate the honorees. 

The Annual Judges’ Reception remains one of AABANY’s signature events and reflects the organization’s longstanding dedication to judicial diversity, professional mentorship, public service, and the advancement of Asian American attorneys and judges throughout New York.

A special acknowledgement to the organizers of this  year’s program: Mark Son, David Mou, Douglas Tang, Kwok Ng, Pei Pei Cheng De Castro, Yang Chen, Carrey Wong, Apollo Baltazar, and Lisa Lin.

For more photographs, go here.

–Written by Lisa Lin

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NAPABA Annual Lobby Day and Congressional Reception on May 19-20 in Washington, D.C.

NAPABA hosted its annual Lobby Day on May 19-20, 2026, bringing together members of their community from across the country to Washington, DC in a celebration and demonstration of the power of their bar during AANHPI Heritage Month. In meetings with congressional representatives and their staffers, attorneys, law students, and leaders from the NAPABA community advocated for advancing the civil rights of the AANHPI community, a fair immigration system, and defending the rule of law.

Highlights of Lobby Day Include:

Robust Representation

With participants hailing from over 20 states, and the District of Columbia, taking part in over 70 meetings with congressional offices on both sides of the aisle, NAPABA demonstrated its strength and its commitment to amplifying AANHPI voices in the halls of power.

Advocacy Training
Prior to the meetings, NAPABA held a training session featuring congressional staffers from both sides of the aisle who spoke with both expertise and passion about the bills their members have introduced or sponsored.  Attendees also heard from advocacy veterans on strategies and techniques to more effectively communicate NAPABA’s priorities and the needs of AANHPI communities and the legal profession.

Policy Priorities
Throughout multiple meetings, participants advocated for issues of importance to AANHPI communities and the legal profession. They focused on codifying longstanding language access protections for the millions of limited English proficient persons in the United States, including the significant portions of the Asian American immigrant populations, as documented by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. NAPABA stood up for access to counsel at various stages of the immigration and entry processes to the United States, and for judicial security in order to better support the rule of law.

Meaningful Engagements
Attendees met with numerous lawmakers and their staff, fostering meaningful dialogues, and building relationships that will be instrumental in advancing policy objectives. NAPABA Lobby Day participants skillfully articulated their positions, presented compelling arguments, and shared personal stories to humanize the issues that they face. On the evening before their training at their Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill, participants heard from leaders in their community directly, including NAPABA Trailblazers Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI) and S.E.C. Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda.

In a time of great uncertainty and a rapidly shifting policy landscape, NAPABA demonstrated the power of its members during a Lobby Day built around a unifying agenda of language access, a sensible and fair immigration system and support for the rule of law. Member-constituents braved the heat to visit engage with key Congressional offices across the Capitol complex and called on their elected representatives to support policies that advance their communities.  Lobby Day is another great reminder that NAPABA is the national voice of the AANHPI legal community, and that we can stand together for the betterment of our communities, for the rule of law we have dedicated our livelihoods to, and for the nation we cherish.

Visit NAPABA’s Advocacy Page here.

View NAPABA’s Organizational Statements here.

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NAPABA Applauds Judge Reynaldo Aligada’s Appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court

For Immediate Release:
May 27, 2026		Contact:
press@napaba.org

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) congratulates Judge Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr. on his appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Judge Aligada becomes the first Asian Pacific American justice in Minnesota’s history.

“Judge Reynaldo Aligada’s historic appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court marks a milestone for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) legal community and beyond,” said NAPABA President Joseph Yao. “As NAPABA’s Portrait Project 2.0 found, Asian American jurists are underrepresented on state high courts. Judge Aligada has broken barriers, and his appointment marks an incredible achievement for our legal community and beyond.”

Judge Aligada currently serves on Minnesota’s Second Judicial District Court. Prior to joining the bench, he served as First Assistant Federal Defender in Minneapolis and previously practiced at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP. He clerked for Judge Michael J. Davis of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Judge Aligada earned his B.A. from Saint John’s University and his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, now the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

“Through his many roles in the community, including with the Community Outreach Committee of the Federal Bar Association and many bar associations like the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA), Judge Aligada has demonstrated a deep commitment public service,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “His groundbreaking appointment highlights the importance of ensuring that those in the AANHPI legal community are recognized, supported, and elevated to positions of leadership across the country.”

“Judge Aligada is a brilliant and skilled jurist and, importantly, a wonderful human being. These qualities, along with his background and experience, make him a phenomenal choice to serve as a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court,” said Valerie Narcy, President of MNAPABA. “This moment comes against the backdrop of a long and challenging history for AANHPI communities. From legislation excluding Chinese immigrants, to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, to anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the more recent actions against birthright citizenship, our community has often been left to wonder about our place in American society. Judge Aligada’s appointment is a reminder that our place is here and that our community is well-woven into the historic tapestry of Minnesota and this country.”

NAPABA extends its sincere congratulations to Judge Reynaldo Aligada and wishes him success in his service on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

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