NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Neomi Rao to D.C. Circuit
On November 14, 2018 the White House nominated Neomi Rao to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The nomination follows President Trump’s announcement of Rao during the White House Diwali celebration yesterday. If confirmed, Rao would be the first Asian Pacific American woman and the second South Asian American to sit on the D.C. Circuit. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the announcement and encourages the Senate to swiftly confirm her.
“Neomi Rao is an experienced public servant and legal thinker,” said Daniel Sakaguchi, president of NAPABA. “Respected amongst her peers, she has the temperament to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Her nomination represents a historic step forward for representation of Asian Pacific Americans and women on the bench.”
Rao is currently the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. A national expert in the area of administrative law, she is a tenured professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School and founder of the Center for the Study of the Administrative State. She previously served in the Office of the White House Counsel and as a staffer for the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Super Lawyers – New York Metro 2018 Supplement
Super Lawyers – New York Metro 2018 Supplement
AABANY congratulates the AABANY members who
have been named Top Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in the New York Metro
2018 edition.
Both recognitions of Super Lawyer and Rising Star
involve a very selective and intense process in which the selected
attorney is nominated and approved by his or her peers in the same area
of practice.
Selections are made on an annual basis. Only 5% of
attorneys are recognized as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5% of attorneys
under 40 years of age are selected as Rising Stars. The attorney must
prove to be ethical, have excellent client records and proven results.
The 2018 digital edition of Super Lawyer and Rising Star can be found by
following the link in the title.
Congratulations to you all on your efforts and achievements!
New York Metro Super Lawyers
- Eugene L. Chang, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Kenneth Chin, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
- Sylvia Chin, White & Case LLP
- Jane Chuang, Lee Anav Chung White Kim Ruger & Richter LLP
- Huhnsik Chung, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
- Eve C. Guillergan, Eve Guillergan PLLC
- Andrew T. Hahn, Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
- Lan Hoang, Baker & Hostetler LLP
- Benjamin C. Hsing, Baker & Hostetler LLP
- Annie Huang, Robins Kaplan LLP
- Richard Kim, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
- David K. Lam, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
- Glenn Lau-Kee, Lau-Kee Law Group, PLLC
- Kenneth E. Lee, Levine Lee LLP
- Lawrence G. Lee, Lynch Daskal Emery LLP
- Lisa S. Lim, Akerman LLP
- Raymond Y. Lin, Latham & Watkins LLP
- Marie Ng, Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C.
- Tai H. Park, Park Jensen Bennett LLP
- Eric Su, FordHarrison LLP
- Vinoo Varghese, Varghese & Associates, P.C.
- Ona Wang, Baker & Hostetler LLP
- Allen Wong, Raimond & Wong LLC
- Arjay G. Yao, Morris, Duffy, Alonso & Faley
- Tsui H. Yee, Law Offices of Tsui H. Yee, P.C.
- Pauline Yeung-Ha, Grimaldi & Yeung LLP
- Andrew J. Yoon, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
New York Metro Rising Stars
- Keala Fumiko, Chan Hubbard
- Joanna K. Chan, Cohen & Gresser LLP
- Emily S. Chow, Ginsburg & Misk
- Anthony K.C. Fong, Anthony K.C. Fong, Esq.
- Zheng Gao, Kevin Kerveng Tung, P.C.
- Ligee Gu, Halperin Battaglia Benzija, LLP
- Yin Huang, Zuber Lawler & Del Duca LLP
- Hanh Huynh, Rubin LLC
- Jing Jin, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
- Joyce E. Kung, Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C.
- Tiffany Ma, Young & Ma LLP
- Claudia Pak, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
- Anna J. Wang, Robinson & Cole LLP
- Jennifer H. Wu, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
- Shengyang Wu, Caesar and Napoli, P.C.
- Ruofei Xiang, Mazzola Lindstrom LLP
- Stephenie Yeh, Grimaldi & Yeung LLP
- Vanessa Y. Yen, King & Spalding LLP
- William Yeung, Law Office of Yeung & Wang PLLC
- Michael D. Yim, Putney, Twombly, Hall & Hirson LLP
- Ji-Young (Rachel) Yoo, Law offices of Rachel J. Yoo, LLC
- Sojin Yoon, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
NAPABA, APABA-SF, and GOAABA Celebrate the Repeal of the Alien Land Law from Florida’s Constitution
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida (APABA-SF), and the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA) celebrate the repeal of the anti-immigrant “Alien Land Law” from Florida’s Constitution. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Florida voters passed an amendment to repeal the Alien Land Law from their state Constitution. Florida added the provision to its Constitution in the 1920s, as part of an anti-Asian and anti-immigrant sentiment that legally prohibited aliens from holding real estate and real property in Florida.
“Thanks to the efforts of APABA-South Florida, GOAABA, and NAPABA, the discriminatory language of the Alien Land Law will be removed from Florida’s Constitution,” said NAPABA President Daniel Sakaguchi. “This amendment was long overdue. The Alien Land Law enshrined the second-class treatment of immigrants and Asian Pacific Americans under the law. We applaud Florida voters for repealing this vestige of discrimination and anti-immigrant sentiment from their state Constitution.”
“APABA of South Florida is proud that Florida’s voters took to the polls to repeal the Alien Land Law from the state Constitution,” said APABA-SF President Benjamin W. Dowers. “APABA of South Florida thanks NAPABA and GOAABA for working arm-in-arm in collaborating with the Florida Constitutional Revision Commission, educating voters through events and information, and reminding people that voting matters. We look forward to working with NAPABA and GOAABA to further social equality in Florida and all other states.”
NAPABA Announces 2018-19 Vice President for Finance and Development, Newly-Appointed At-Large Board Members, and Regional Governors
NAPABA congratulates Bruce L. Ishimatsu on his election as Vice President for Finance and Development for the 2018-19 bar year. NAPABA also congratulates the newly-appointed at-large members and regional governors of the NAPABA Board of Governors for the 2018-19 bar year.
The following individuals were appointed by the NAPABA Board of Governors to serve for two-year terms as at-large board members:
- Kristy Gonowon
- Kristin Haugen
The following individuals were selected by their respective regions to serve two-year terms as regional governors:
- Hogene Choi | Northern California Region
- Thy Bui | Southern California Region
- Craig I. Nakanishi | Northwest Region
- Brendan Wong | Northeast Region
- Gregory Schwartz | Central Region
All incoming board members and newly-elected regional governors will serve with continuing elected officers, regional governors and at-large board members for the 2018-19 bar year. They will be sworn into office during the 2018 NAPABA Convention in Chicago, IL.
NAPABA Announces 2018 President’s Awards Recipients
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is proud to present the 2018 NAPABA President’s Award to Karen Korematsu (Founder & Executive Director, The Fred T. Korematsu Institute) and Dale Minami and Don Tamaki (Partners, Minami Tamaki LLP; members of the Korematsu Coram Nobis legal team) for their work on StopRepeatingHistory.Org, a campaign to educate the public about Japanese American incarceration during WWII and the present-day dangers of similar policies targeting individuals based on race, national origin, or religion. The NAPABA President’s Award is given to NAPABA members who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to NAPABA, the legal community, and the broader Asian Pacific American community.
Karen Korematsu, founder of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute and daughter of the late Fred T. Korematsu, is a leading voice in advocating for civil liberties for all communities, and in 2015, she became NAPABA’s first non-lawyer member. Dale Minami and Dom Tamaki have been involved in significant litigation involving the civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans and other underrepresented groups and served on the pro bono team that reopened the landmark Korematsu v. United States Supreme Court Case, overturning Fred Korematsu’s conviction.
“This year, it is my honor to present the NAPABA President’s Award to Karen Korematsu, Dale Minami, and Don Tamaki for their tireless commitment to the StopRepeatingHistory.Org campaign,” said NAPABA President Pankit J. Doshi. “I applaud their efforts to relate the experiences of Japanese American internment during World War II to the infringement on civil rights and civil liberties that many religious and ethnic minorities face today. Their voices have been critical to ensuring that we as a nation never repeat that dark chapter of our history, including as a result of the travel ban impacting Muslim and immigrant communities, which NAPABA vehemently opposed. While their work in civil rights for decades has already blazed a trail, their continued efforts to advocate for our community without rest is particularly inspirational in today’s world.”
The 2018 NAPABA President’s Award will be presented at the 2018 NAPABA Convention in Chicago, IL, on Nov. 10, 2018. NAPABA congratulates Karen Korematsu, Dale Minami, and Don Tamaki as the 2018 NAPABA President’s Award recipients.
Judges Needed for Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition
If you are an attorney attending the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention in Chicago this year, we request that you volunteer to serve as a judge in the preliminary and/or quarterfinal rounds of the 2018 Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition (Competition). The Competition is an appellate advocacy competition sponsored annually by the NAPABA Law Foundation, an IRC § 501( c )(3) non-profit, charitable and educational affiliate of NAPABA. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Competition! The Competition honors the late Judge Thomas Tang, a champion of individual rights, an advocate for the advancement of minority attorneys, and an ardent supporter of NAPABA. Judge Tang served on the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1977 until his passing in 1995. To learn more about the competition, click here.
This year’s problem addresses the following issues:
- Whether a state university may impose disciplinary sanctions on a student for non-curricular expressive conduct otherwise protected by the First Amendment in order to protect the expressive rights of other.
- Whether a state university may expel a law student based on university officials’ determination that her off-campus expressive activity, otherwise protected by the First Amendment, violates the professionalism standards governing attorneys.
The information for the preliminary and quarterfinal rounds is as follows:
Date: Friday, November 9, 2018
Time: Preliminary Round One (9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.), Preliminary Round Two (11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), and Quarterfinal Round (2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
Place: Sheraton Grand Chicago (301 E. North Water St., Chicago, IL 60611)
Please register online at https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/dicpm to judge one or both of the preliminary rounds and/or the quarterfinal round. Although the sign-up sheet is getting full, please consider signing up to be an alternate in the event someone needs to make a last minute cancellation. Once you register, you will be emailed the problem, the bench brief, the rules and the oral argument scoring sheets. Please report to the Tennessee meeting room located on the second level at least 20 minutes before your scheduled round to obtain your room assignment. We ask that alternates also report to the Tennessee meeting room 20 minutes before your scheduled room to determine if your services are needed for the Competition.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Linda Tran ([email protected]) or Leah Gould ([email protected]).