On Monday, January 23, the first day of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Annual Meeting, NYSBA’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, along with several other NYSBA committees, hosted Diversity Works, a program held on Monday afternoon that included the Constance Baker Motley Symposium, followed by the Diversity Trailblazer Award ceremony which then flowed straightaway into the 14th Annual Celebrating Diversity in the Bar Reception.

The Constance Baker Motley Symposium was moderated by Sandra Buchanan, Esq., Chair, NYSBA Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. It featured nine NYSBA Diversity Trailblazers, including 2013 Trailblazer awardee (and AABANY member) Lillian Moy, sharing their perspectives on the state of diversity in the legal profession.

This year’s Diversity Trailblazer Awardee was none other than Hon. Denny Chin, United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Chin was the first Asian American judge appointed as a United States District Judge outside of the Ninth Circuit. His judicial career includes many important and high profile cases, including the sentencing of Bernard Madoff. Judge Chin also contributed to educating lawyers and the public about the substantial contribution of Asian Americans to the legal, social and political history of the United States by producing and performing historical trial reenactments of famous cases involving Asian Americans.

Despite the cold, stormy, blustery and rainy weather, many AABANY members came to the award ceremony and reception to celebrate this well-deserved honor and recognition for Judge Chin. Congratulations to Judge Chin; we thank you for your trailblazing example and for being such an inspiration for so many generations of lawyers.

AABANY thanks NYSBA for its continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion in the profession.