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Press Release: Asian American Bar Association of New York Applauds New York’s Highest Court for Decision Prohibiting Skin-Color Discrimination in Jury Selection

Press Release: Asian American Bar Association of New York Applauds New York’s Highest Court for Decision Prohibiting Skin-Color Discrimination in Jury Selection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 28, 2016

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(212) 332-2478

Asian American Bar Association of New York Applauds New York’s Highest Court for Decision Prohibiting Skin-Color Discrimination in Jury Selection

NEW YORK – On December 22, 2016, the New York Court of Appeals held in People v. Bridgeforth that skin color-based discrimination in jury selection is prohibited under Batson v. Kentucky, the New York State Equal Protection Clause, and the New York State Civil Rights Law. While Batson has long been understood to prohibit racial discrimination, the Court concluded that its holding “extend[s] the application of Batson to challenges based on color to ensure that the jury is not used as a tool to accomplish such discrimination.” As one of many community organizations that co-signed the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality (“Korematsu Center”) and Akin Gump’s amicus brief in support of this decision, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) applauds this decision.

Key to the Court of Appeals’ decision was its recognition that “[d]iscrimination on the basis of one’s skin color – or colorism – has been well researched and analyzed, demonstrating that ‘not all colors (or tones) are equal.’”  In so holding, the Court expressly relied on several sources set forth in the amicus brief filed by the Korematsu Center and over 50 bar associations, non-profit organizations, and law school professors in this case.  Professor Robert S. Chang, executive director of the Korematsu Center, commented, “We are pleased the Court found the scholarship on the history and effects of color discrimination that were cited in our amicus brief helpful and informative in finding that Batson does apply to color-based challenges under New York law.”

Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (“LDF”) observed, “The Court of Appeals has taken a significant step towards reducing the impact of color-based discrimination in our justice system. We hope New York’s leadership in this area will encourage other jurisdictions across the country to protect the role of the jury as an instrument of public justice that is truly representative of the community.”

Professor Vinay Harpalani from Savannah Law School, who served as of counsel for amici, applauded the Court of Appeals for “recognizing that Indian Americans, like African-Americans, can face discrimination based on their skin color.”  The Bridgeforth case involved a dark-skinned Indian American woman who was excluded from the jury along with several other dark-skinned women.

Attorneys from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP served as pro bono counsel on the brief. “Akin Gump is proud to represent this national coalition and be part of this resounding victory for justice,” said Alice Hsu, a partner in Akin Gump’s New York office representing the amici.

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) is proud to be among the organizations to sign on to the amicus brief. “As the leading bar association for Asian Americans in New York, we supported theamicus brief and we are pleased with the court’s decision,” stated Susan L. Shin, President of AABANY. “Discrimination on the basis of skin color, just as discrimination on the basis of race, should have no place in jury selection and the proper administration of justice.”

In total, 32 law professors and 20 organizations joined the amicus brief, including: the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Asian Law Caucus, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Atlanta, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Los Angeles, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Inc., the Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA), the National Asian Pacific Bar Association  (NAPABA), the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the National Bar Association, the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA), the Society of American Law Teachers, Inc. (SALT), the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY), and the South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA North America).

The Court’s decision can be found here.  The amicus brief is available here.

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (212) 332-2478, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole. AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org

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NYSBA | DRS Diversity Scholarships

NYSBA | DRS Diversity Scholarships

What are DRS Diversity Scholarships?
Beginning in 2017, the Dispute Resolution Section of the NY State Bar Association (“DRS”) will award a maximum of 5 mediation training scholarships and 5 arbitration training scholarships each year, to encourage greater opportunities for minorities and women in the field of dispute resolution.

What do DRS Diversity Scholarship Recipients Receive?
The scholarships give recipients the following benefits:  

  • Enrollment at no charge in either (1) three-day Mediation Training offered annually by DRS and the Supreme Court, NY County/Nassau County, or, subject to DRS approval, other mediation training offered outside the NY Metropolitan Area) or (2) the three-day Arbitration Training offered annually by DRS and the American Arbitration Association
  • Free one-year membership in the DRS (and the NY State Bar Association if recipient is not a member), entitling recipients to a host of benefits including
    1. Opportunity to join and become active in one or more Section committees
    2. Discounted registration fees for DRS programs and events
    3. Receiving the DRS publication “The Dispute Resolution Lawyer;”
  • Guidance and advice from an experienced neutral to be assigned to the recipient

Who is Eligible for the Scholarships?
Anyone admitted to the bar in New York may apply for the scholarships, although preference will be given to minority and female applicants.

For more information and to apply, click HERE.

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NAPABA Affiliate Best Practices Webinar Series: Board of Governance and Best Practices

Be a part of history! Join NAPABA for its inaugural Affiliate Best Practices Webinar | Board of Governance and Best Practices. Former NAPABA President Wendy Shiba will lead this interactive webinar, which has been presented to and well-received by various classes of the Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy.

Topics will include:

  • Board duties and expectations
  • Strategic planning
  • Building consensus

Who (target audience) | Any NAPABA or NAPALSA affiliate board member, officer, or staff
What | Board Governance and Best Practices
When | Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at 2 p.m. EST

Register HERE. 

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Law Department 2017 Diversity & Inclusion Summer Legal Internship Program

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Diversity & Inclusion Summer Legal Internship Program is intended to provide exceptional law students with a unique and in-depth opportunity to work in the corporate law department of a premier global BioPharma company. We seek qualified law students of diverse backgrounds (first year preferred, but students at different stages of their legal education will be considered, including LLM students), who have exhibited an interest in learning about healthcare, pharmaceutical, or corporate practice. Although summer internships are not expected to lead to an offer of full-time employment with Bristol-Myers Squibb, our internships provide a professional experience that should prove valuable to participants and future employers. The positions will primarily be located in our Central New Jersey offices with occasional travel to our New York City office.

In assessing potential candidates, this program is targeted towards law students from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession and

  • Are in good academic standing and rank in the top 30% of their class and/or carry a 3.0 GPA or better; and
  • Have shown a commitment to high ethical standards.

Candidates who are selected for an interview by Bristol-Myers Squibb should be prepared to respond to any of the following questions:

  • How has your law school experience influenced the direction and focus of your future law career?
  • What personal characteristics or circumstances make you an excellent candidate for this internship?
  • What is your interest in healthcare, pharmaceutical or corporate practice?
  • Do you have prior or current experience in the healthcare field (professional or otherwise) and if so, how has that experience influenced your perception of the healthcare field?
  • What are your professional aspirations? Where do you see yourself five years after graduating law school?

Candidates should submit their completed applications to [email protected] by January 6, 2017. Applications submitted after this date, or formatted incorrectly, will not be considered. To be formatted correctly, each application must be submitted in a single PDF document with the applicant’s name as the title of the file (i.e., John Doe.pdf), and include in the following order:

  • Application cover sheet
  • A cover letter from the student indicating:
    1. Why the student is an excellent candidate for the program and specifically how the student would contribute to the program.
    2. A statement of why diversity and inclusion is important to the student.
  • A current resume
  • A legal writing sample (no more than 3 pages)

Students selected for interviews may be asked to submit their law school transcript.

Download Brochure HERE.

Download Application Cover Sheet HERE. 

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NAPABA Takes Action Following The Presidential Election

In the aftermath of this particularly divisive presidential election there has been profound concern, anxiety, and even fear about the future of our country based on a range of issues regarding hate crimes, xenophobic rhetoric, immigration, and other civil rights issues. In accordance with NAPABA’s non-partisan mission to assist the diverse Asian Pacific American legal community, NAPABA continues to work with members interested in political appointments, while speaking out on behalf of vulnerable populations, working with our partners on our policy priorities, and developing tools for our members and affiliates to take action. Steps taken include:

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East Village Grand Sichuan decision

East Village Grand Sichuan decision

Joane Wong, Co-Chair of the AABANY Labor & Employment Law Committee, recently received a positive decision in a case that she tried on behalf of the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in January 2016. The NLRB affirmed the rulings of the Administrative Law Judge against East Village Grand Sichuan Inc. d/b/a Grand Sichuan Restaurant. The case involved allegations by one of the employees of the restaurant being discharged for engaging in protected activity, i.e., filing a suit against her employer for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law.

Congratulations to Joane for success in her trial and having the results affirmed by the NLRB.

To read the full decision, follow the link in the title. To learn more about the Labor & Employment Law Committee, click here.

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Federation Of Defense And Corporate Counsel | Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship

We are committed to the full participation and inclusion of diverse professionals in our organization and the legal profession as part of our core values of diversity and inclusion. To that end, we seek diverse members, whether persons of color, women, LGBTQ, or persons with physical limitations and whether they represent economic, geographic, social, ethnic, racial or religious diversity. With these core values in mind, we created the FDCC Foundation Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship to honor the spouse of one of our long time members, Edward J. Currie, Jr., a champion of diversity in the profession.

CRITERIA

The FDCC Foundation Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship will be open to application by all diverse law school students and prospective students. The selected recipients will receive a $5,000 academic scholarship to the law school of their choice and have an opportunity to intern for an FDCC law firm or company in the geographic areas where they wish to practice between their
second and third year of law school. The internship is a paid position. The applications will go through a two‐step review process. The first review will be conducted by a subcommittee composed of FDCC members appointed by the President of the FDCC Foundation. The second and final review process will be composed by five members: the President of the FDCC Foundation, a Member of the Foundation Board, a Member of the Diversity Committee, a Member of the Admissions Committee, and a Member of the Membership Development &
Retention Committee.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To apply, please submit the following materials no later than Dec. 30, 2016:

  • Personal statement describing how you will contribute to FDCC’s core values of diversity and inclusion, describing your needs and any unique qualifications and providing information on any other matters you believe would assist the Review Committee in evaluating your application (1000‐word limit)
  • Writing sample (7 page limit)
  • Three references including names and contact information of individuals who can attest to your professional and academic abilities

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications may be submitted beginning Oct. 15, 2016. All parts of the application must be submitted at the same time to dpolscer@gordon‐polscer.com. Applications must be received by Dec. 30, 2016. The selection committee will notify applicants selected for an interview by Feb. 15, 2017. Please address any questions about the Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship program to Diane Polscer (dpolscer@gordon‐polscer.com).

For more information, please visit 

http://www.thefederation.org/process.cfm?PageID=2362.

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Perkins Coie LLP 1L Diversity Fellowship

Perkins Coie LLP is pleased to offer a 1L Diversity Fellowship for the 2017 summer program. Since 1991 the Firm has awarded fellowships to first year law students from a diversity of backgrounds. The fellowships provide students with a $15,000 academic scholarship and a paid summer associate position immediately following the completion of their first year of law school.  The application period runs from December 1, 2016 through January 16, 2017.  

For more information (and to apply) please visit our website: https://www.perkinscoie.com/en/about-us/careers/summer-program/1l-opportunities.html

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Full-Time & Summer Opportunities Through NLF

NLF Partners and In-House Counsel Community Law Fellowship/NLF Community Law Fellowship (For more information and to apply, click HERE)

  • 2-Year Full-Time Fellowship
  • 3Ls, Judicial Clerks, Recent Law Grads
  • Deadline | Dec. 31, 2016

Established in 2004 through a generous gift from Paul W. Lee of Goodwin Procter LLP, the NAPABA Law Foundation Partners and In-House Counsel Community Law Fellowship works to address the need for attorneys working on behalf of the Asian Pacific American populations. Recognizing that many obstacles prevent committed attorneys from practicing public interest law, including the shortage of entry-level jobs, the Fellowship provides an opportunity for a new attorney to gain substantive experience at a nonprofit national or community-based organization during the two-year Fellowship period. Fellows are funded at $100,000 for the two-year Fellowship.

NAPABA Law Foundation Underserved Communities Fellowship (For more information and to apply, click HERE)

  • Summer/Flexible
  • 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Deadline | Feb. 15, 2017

Through a generous gift from Les R. Jin, NLF has established a $6,000 fellowship for one law student or recent law school graduate to gain meaningful legal experience at a public interest host organization on a project designed to advance opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans who are part of one or more under-served Asian Pacific American communities. The Fellowship is open to all currently enrolled U.S. law students in good standing to work at any qualified not-for-profit host organization in the U.S. If the Fellowship recipient is someone who is currently a first or second year law student, s/he shall perform the fellowship during the following summer. If the awardee is a third-year student, s/he shall finish the fellowship within seven months of his/her graduation.

Fred T. Korematsu Summer Fellowship (For more information and to apply, click HERE)

  • Summer
  • 1Ls, 2Ls
  • Deadline | Feb. 15, 2017

In partnership with the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, NLF will be accepting applications for the Fred T. Korematsu Summer Fellowship Program. The program will provide $6,000 for a meaningful summer internship at a public interest organization. The intern will work to further Fred T. Korematsu’s legacy as a civil rights pioneer. Initial funding was provided by Parkin Lee and The Rockefeller Group.

McGuireWoods/NLF Internship Program for Law Students (For more information and to apply, click HERE)
McGuireWoods/NLF Internship Program for Undergraduates (For more information and to apply, click HERE)

  • Summer
  • 1Ls, 2Ls, Undergraduates
  • Deadline | March 15, 2017

The McGuireWoods/NLF Internship Program supports students interested in the legal profession and will help students develop a commitment to advocacy on behalf of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community. The Program seeks to achieve these goals by providing undergraduate and law school students with meaningful internship experiences at the Washington, DC offices of NAPABA and NLF.

Applications Coming Soon

  • Summer NLF Public Interest Internship Scholarship
  • Bryan Cave/NAPABA Law Foundation Community Service Scholarship for Summer Law Interns
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