Pitch Session Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Pitch Session Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

NAPABA IHC Webinar, Sept. 29 at 3pm: Success and Career Development as an In-House Counsel

NAPABA IHC Webinar, Sept. 29 at 3pm: Success and Career Development as an In-House Counsel

Organizational Statement | Judicial Selection Process in New York

NAPABA is aware of a highly unusual development in the judicial selection process in the State of New York. It is our understanding that, for the first time in the state’s history, a local screening committee has declined to vote a sitting judge, Justice Doris Ling-Cohan, out of committee, thereby denying her the opportunity to seek re-election, with the effect of removing her from the bench. While we are also aware of press reports of potential changes in this development, to our knowledge, the decision of the screening panel has not been reversed, and Justice Ling-Cohan is not on the ballot for the November election. Justice Ling-Cohan is the first and only Asian Pacific American woman on the appellate courts of New York. This statistic is particularly striking, as Asian Pacific Americans make up 7.3 percent of the population of New York. We encourage our local affiliates, who are closest to the process and to the relevant players, to closely investigate and monitor the situation, and for the New York legal community to take every step necessary to ensure that judges are treated fairly and on the merits, and are given the opportunity to confront and respond to any expressed concerns or objections.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

Supporting Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan

AABANY is sharing the following information in response to the many inquiries we have received asking how to help her during this difficult time. 

The Manhattan Democratic Committee (for the first time ever) voted in August to withhold their support for an incumbent: Justice Doris Ling-Cohan.  

The MDC Screening Panel has since recognized that Justice Doris was not evaluated according to the rules that apply to incumbent judges.  As reported in the press, the process was inappropriately swayed by a selected few who had direct non-disclosed conflicts and special interests.

Pursuant to the applicable rules, Justice Doris can rejoin the November ballot only by being nominated as a democratic candidate from the floor at the Manhattan Democratic Judicial Convention on Thursday, September 22.
Justice for the Justice will only be served if the judicial delegates vote in the majority to support Justice Doris for reelection at the Convention. The rumors that the Manhattan Democratic Committee has reversed its decision of non-support are false.  Our fight continues.

There is absolutely no question that Justice Doris is qualified, competent and works hard in her position as an Associate Justice on the Appellate Term of the First Department.  Click here are a one-pager on Justice Doris’ credentials (Bio Ling-Cohan.pdf). Click here for a summary of her notable decisions (Noteworthy Decisions Ling-Cohan.pdf), which includes a groundbreaking 2005 decision in Hernandez v. Robles, which held that same-sex couples have a right to marry.

To defend her job and her honor, Justice Doris has consequently had to hire campaign staff and has been running a re-election campaign. There are two things you can do to help.   

Make a Donation:  Any amount is appreciated.  Please fill out the contribution form (Contribution Form Ling-Cohan.pdf) and send your check to: 

Re-Elect Justice Ling-Cohan c/o Lisa Kaplan52 East 1st Street #2A New York, NY 10003 (INCLUSION OF THE COMPLETED FORM IS VERY IMPORTANT)

Attend the Convention:  The Manhattan Democratic Judicial Convention will take place on Thursday September 22 beginning at 5:30pm at Harlem Hospital’s Herbert G. Cave Auditorium at 506 Malcolm X Boulevard.  The more of us who show up to show our support, the greater chance the delegates will be persuaded to put Judge Doris back on the ballot.   Please click here to RSVP.

For additional information contact Lily Fan at [email protected] or Eve Guillergan at [email protected]

Me, My Grandfather and Citizenship Day

Me, My Grandfather and Citizenship Day

CLE Webinar, Sept. 20 | Self-Grooming for a Public Company Board Seat: An Intentional Approach

Have you ever wondered about what it might take for you to be invited to join the board of directors of a Fortune 500 company? If so, then please join us for a webinar designed to help you on that journey.

During this free one-hour session, you will get a behind-the-scenes peek at what goes on inside the corporate boardroom and learn how Fortune 500 company boards evaluate director, board and committee performance, and what they are primarily looking for in board member candidates. In addition, we will explore ideas on how to get noticed by decision makers.

Public companies are looking for highly analytical individuals like you who have what it takes to join and be strong performers on their boards of directors. With external pressures from institutional investors, proxy companies and others on public companies to increase the number of directors who are from outside the company (as well as upcoming guideline changes that reduce the number of corporate boards on which individual directors may concurrently serve), that need will continue to grow.

Led by Curtis Hom, the founding attorney of Innova Legal Group (and former SSF Committee co-chair and former board member of NAPABA and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, APAICS.org), this webinar is ideally suited for attorneys and other professionals who are serious about taking their careers to the next level and are committed to getting that done.

Curtis Hom works directly with boards of Fortune 500 companies on their annual director, board and committee performance evaluation processes. Drawing from a unique combination of real world experience and lessons learned from engaging in discussions and interviews with board members of public and private companies across different industries (as well as leading executive recruiters), Curtis Hom is willing to share his insights about the director selection process, evaluation criteria and what distinguishes finalists from other highly impressive candidates.

*CLE certificates offered only for current NAPABA members.

Register here

PRESS RELEASE | NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Diane Gujarati to U.S. District Court – E.D.N.Y.

For Immediate Release
Sept. 13, 2016

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — Today, President Obama nominated Diane Gujarati to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. If confirmed, Gujarati will be the first Indian American to serve as an Article III federal judge in New York. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds her nomination and encourages the Senate to swiftly confirm her to the bench.

“Diane Gujarati has a long and distinguished record of service in the U.S. attorney’s office that prepares her to be an asset to the District Court for the Eastern District of New York,” said Jin Y. Hwang, president of NAPABA. “I urge the Senate to quickly confirm Ms. Gujarati to the district court.”

Ms. Gujarati is currently the deputy chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York. An experienced litigator, she has been an assistant U.S. attorney for 17 years, and worked on a range of criminal prosecutions and appellate matters, including: economic, violent, narcotics, trafficking, and exploitation crimes.

Ms. Gujarati is an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Law and was previously a litigation associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell. She clerked for the Honorable John M. Walker, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University and Yale Law School.

NAPABA commends President Obama for nominating Ms. Gujarati to the bench. NAPABA thanks Senators Gillibrand and Schumer for recommending Ms. Gujarati to the White House.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of almost 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.