Official blog of the Asian American Bar Association of New York
From the Historical Society of the New York Courts:
Hon. Peter Tom talks about his years as a young immigrant in tough NYC neighborhoods, his amateur boxing career, and his interest and career in the law. Justice Tom is currently an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department. At the time of the filming of this video, he was the Acting Presiding Justice of that court.
From the Historical Society of the New York Courts:
Hon. Randall T. Eng shares his experience as the first Asian-American judge in New York State. At the time of the filming of this interview, he was also the first Asian-American Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, appointed in the fall of 2012. Watch as Justice Eng talks about his family background, career in the law, how he handled discrimination and racism, and the people in his life that served as inspiration.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) strongly condemns the Trump Administration’s cruel “zero tolerance” enforcement policy of referring all non-port-of-entry-border crossers for criminal prosecution.
Please visit the link in the title to read NAPABA’s full statement.
Congratulations to Hon. Lillian Wan, first Asian American woman in the New York State Court of Claims, confirmed by the New York State Senate on the evening of June 20, 2018. AABANY congratulates Judge Wan on this historic appointment. Please join us in wishing her every success in this next phase of Judge Wan’s judicial career.
Congratulations also to all the appointees confirmed by the New York State Senate on June 20:
For Immediate Release: 6/20/2018
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO
GOVERNOR CUOMO PROCLAIMS EDIE WINDSOR DAY IN NEW YORK STATE
For Championing LGBTQ Rights and Leading the Fight for Marriage Equality, Governor Issues Proclamation on Her Birthday, June 20
Proclamation Available Here
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today proclaimed June 20 Edie Windsor Day in New York State as a tribute to her legacy championing equality and justice for the LGBTQ community, and for being on the front lines of the fight for marriage equality. Today would have been Edie’s 89th birthday.
“Edie was an iconic New Yorker who shaped history and taught us that love always wins,” Governor Cuomo said. “Proclaiming her birthday as Edie Windsor Day is a fitting way to salute a true New York hero whose strength, perseverance, and conviction in the face of adversity continues to inspire all of us.”
The text of the proclamation is available here and below.
Proclamation
Whereas, all New Yorkers are proud to join in honoring the life and legacy of Edie Windsor, a pioneer and icon in the LGBTQ movement who inspired New Yorkers and people around the world through her courage, leadership, and tireless commitment to ensuring equality and justice; and
Whereas, throughout her extraordinary life, Edie broke down barriers – in her professional career working with early mainframe computers, having achieved the highest technical position of Senior Systems Programmer at IBM and, through her personal drive as a powerful and fearless voice for the LGBTQ community in New York and across the nation; and
Whereas, her landmark victory in United States v. Windsor marked a watershed in the movement to secure marriage rights for same-sex couples and paved the way for nationwide marriage equality; and
Whereas, Edie’s strength, perseverance, and conviction in the face of adversity has made her a hero to all New Yorkers and an invaluable inspiration to countless others in the fight for equality; and
Whereas, June 20, 2018 marks what would have been Edie’s 89th birthday, and all New Yorkers are proud to join in honoring and remembering Edie’s extraordinary life, her legacy of groundbreaking leadership, and her lasting contributions to equality everywhere;
Now, Therefore, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2018 as Edie Windsor Day in the Empire State in honor of her legacy of groundbreaking achievements and indelible contributions to our great state and nation.
Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany on this sixteenth day of June in the year two thousand eighteen.
Governor
Secretary to the Governor
Melissa DeRosa