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AABANY Applauds Nomination of Kathy Hirata Chin for New York Court of Appeals Vacancy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2014

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – December 18, 2014 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that the Commission on Judicial Nominations has named Kathy Hirata Chin (Partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham, & Taft LLP) as one of seven well-qualified nominees for the judgeship vacancy on the New York State Court of Appeals created by the retirement of Judge Robert Smith. The Commission on Judicial Nomination, charged with evaluating and recommending to the Governor candidates to fill vacancies on the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, received 53 applications and interviewed 22 candidates for the Smith opening.

“AABANY applauds the Commission on Judicial Nomination for its recommendation of Kathy Hirata Chin to join the highest court of New York and strongly encourages Governor Cuomo to make history by appointing the first-ever Asian Pacific American (APA) judge to this esteemed institution,” said AABANY President Clara Ohr.  “Kathy’s qualifications would make her a valuable addition to this court and her appointment would be an important step toward making the judiciary in New York a more accurate reflection of the population it serves.” APAs remain significantly underrepresented in the New York Judiciary. With approximately 1300 judges in the New York State court system, only 22 of them are APAs in spite of the fact that APAs make up approximately 8% of the population of New York State.  

“We congratulate Kathy on her selection as a nominee to the State’s highest court,” said Linda Lin, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Judiciary Committee. “Her outstanding credentials, balanced temperament, and sterling achievements undoubtedly make her an excellent candidate for the bench and we strongly urge Governor Cuomo to appoint Kathy Chin to the New York Court of Appeals bench.”

Kathy Hirata Chin is an accomplished litigator who has handled dozens of appellate cases, concentrating her practice in healthcare and real estate. After graduating magna cum laude from Princeton University and graduating Columbia University School of Law, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Editor-in-Chief of The Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, Ms. Chin joined Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, becoming one of the first minority and women Partners in 1990. Nominated by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Ms. Chin served on the New York City Planning Commission from 1995-2001. Nominated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Ms. Chin has served on the New York City Commission to Combat Police Corruption since August 2003. She has also served on Governor Mario M. Cuomo’s Judicial Screening Committee for the First Judicial Department from1992-1994; the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the Eastern District of New York from 1992-1999; the Gender Bias Committee of the Second Circuit Task Force on Gender, Race, and Ethnic Fairness; the New York County Lawyers’ Association’s Task Force to Increase Diversity in the Legal Profession; and Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye’s Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections from 2003-2006; and the New York County Lawyers’ Association Board of Directors. She currently serves as a member of The Attorney Emeritus Advisory Council and The Commercial Division Advisory Council, and as member of the Board of Directors of the Medicare Rights Center. Ms. Chin has been a longstanding and active member of AABANY.

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For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to main@aabany.org.

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).

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Volunteer with Empire Mock Trial: January 24-26

Earn 3 free CLE credits while educating top collegiate mock trial competitors! 
 
The nonprofit Empire Mock Trial, in conjunction with NYU Mock trial, is pleased to invite you to our ninth annual Downtown Invitational mock trial tournament on January 24-26 at the EDNY (225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn. Each year the Downtown brings together sixteen of the top collegiate trial advocacy teams. This year’s field includes Harvard, Columbia, NYU, UVA, 2014 national runner-up Princeton, and the 2014 defending national champion, UCLA. 

You can help teach talented, motivated college students about the law by volunteering just a few hours of your time. In exchange, we’ll provide you with free non-transitional CLE credits in the category of skills. 

 
  • Features four preliminary rounds of competition, and you can judge as many or as few as you like—no litigation experience is required
  • Please free to invite a friend or colleague to co-judge with you at the tournament.  We’ll pair you together!
  • 16top trial advocacy teams will compete including Harvard, Columbia, NYU, UVA, and defending national champion UCLA
  • We’ll serve complimentary food and beverages as a token of our appreciation
  • Registering takes less than a minute – just visit our site
We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.  Feel free to call (917-426-EMTA) or e-mail admin@empiremocktrial.org.
 
We look forward to seeing you in January. 
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AALDEF 2015 Summer Undergraduate Internships: Applications Due Feb. 9

Founded in 1974, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

Summer interns attend weekly brown bag lectures on a range of public interest legal topics along with interns from other legal defense funds and civil rights groups.  The summer program is ten (10) weeks, beginning approximately June 1st through August 7th, 2015. The position is unpaid.  However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding and work-study funds may also be available.  Academic credit can be arranged.

Community Health Care Initiative Intern:  community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, and health care access;

Educational Equity Intern: Responsibilities include community outreach and presentations with Asian American youth groups, public education policy research, assistance with client intakes and general support for projects on educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action, student free-speech and police surveillance, and anti-Asian harassment.

Housing & Environmental Justice Project Intern: Responsibilities include community outreach and research on land use, community planning, and anti-displacement issues. 

Office Assistant: Responsibilities include data entry, organizing press clippings, answering phones, doing mailings, assisting with fundraising and other events, and performing general clerical duties.  Other responsibilities include providing support for community education and outreach projects and acting as an interpreter/translator.  Computer experience with databases, graphics and web programs is helpful.   

Voting Rights Intern: research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballots, produce reports and organize public forums; assist in organizing legal trainings; conduct voter registration drives.

Requirements: Candidates must be detail-oriented and possess strong writing skills.  Spoken and written knowledge of Korean, Bangla, Chinese, or another Asian language is a plus. Qualified applicants should indicate which internship they are applying for and send a resume and cover letter by Monday, February 9, 2015 to:

Summer Undergraduate Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor, New York, New York 10013
fax: 212.966.4303 or email: info@aaldef.org  

For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or jweng@aaldef.org.

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AALDEF 2015 Summer Legal Internship Program: Applications Due Jan. 30

Founded in 1974, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

Internships for the summer of 2015 are available in the following program areas:

  • Anti-Trafficking Initiative – legal research and writing on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as outreach, community education, and advocacy on the rights of exploited and abused workers.
  • Community Health Care Initiative – legal research, community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, and health care access;
  • Economic Justice for Workers – legal research, advocacy and direct representation on behalf of Asian immigrant workers experiencing wage-and-hour, retaliation, and workplace safety violations in the restaurant, nail salon, domestic worker, and other low-wage industries.  
  • Educational Equity and Youth Rights: legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, language access, student free-speech and police surveillance, and anti-Asian harassment.
  • Housing & Environmental Justice Project: community outreach/education, research, and litigation on gentrification and other land use issues affecting low-income and Asian immigrant communities.
  • Immigrant Access to Justice: litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by post 9/11 immigration and law enforcement policies. An additional emphasis on Asian communities’ access to representation and education about immigration policies and practices that may impact them, including deferred action policies and administrative relief for undocumented youth and other immigrants, unconstitutional DHS stops, and collaboration between state/local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement, e.g., “Secure Communities” program. **Law students ONLY**
  • Voting Rights – legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballot, produce reports and organize public forums, and assist in organizing legal trainings.

Description of Summer Internship Program: The summer program is ten weeks, from approximately June 1 through August 7, 2015. Interns work full-time and are supervised by attorneys in specific program areas.  Depending on the program area, interns will work on litigation, legal and policy advocacy, community outreach and education, or client intakes; each program area differs in emphasis.  Summer interns attend weekly brown bag lectures on a range of public interest legal topics along with interns from other legal defense funds and civil rights groups.  The position is unpaid.  However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding.  Academic credit can be arranged.

To Apply:

  • Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to be received by AALDEF on or before Friday, January 30, 2015 at the address below.  Please indicate in your cover letter the top three preferred program areas.  Only law students qualify for AALDEF’s legal internships.  Applications may be faxed or emailed.
  • Any bilingual ability should be stated in the application.  Bilingual ability is helpful but not required.  Gujarati, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Indonesian and Urdu-speaking applicants are especially urged to apply.
  • Applications will be reviewed upon receipt until the January 30, 2015 deadline.  Interviewing will take place on a rolling basis.  Only applicants who have been granted interviews will be notified of their advancement in the application process. 

Summer Internship Search (Legal)
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303  Email: info@aaldef.org

For more information, contact: Ken Kimerling at 212-966-5932 x203 or kkimerling@aaldef.org
* * *Please do NOT email applications to kkimerling@aaldef.org* * *

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Japanese American Bar Association Scholarships: Applications Due Jan. 18

The Japanese American Bar Association Educational Foundation is currently accepting applications for the five law student scholarships offered this year through the Foundation and its wonderful sponsors. The deadline to apply is Sunday, January 18, 2015.

For this cycle, JABA Educational Foundation will award five scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each, including the inaugural M. Dick Osumi Civil Rights and Public Interest Scholarship to a law student who is interested in pursuing a career in public interest law, civil rights law, and/or public policy.

For application materials and instructions or for more information, please visit http://www.jabaonline.org/scholarships/. For questions about the scholarships or the scholarship process, please email: JEFSCHOLARSHIP@gmail.com.

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NAPABA Community Law Fellowship: Applications Due Dec. 31

The NAPABA Law Foundation Community Law Fellowship Program was launched in 2004 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 NLF Community Law 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.

More information can be found here. Applications due December 31, 2014

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NAPABA-Prudential 1L Summer Internship Program: Applications Due Jan. 9

NAPABA is pleased to partner with Prudential Financial, Inc. to provide a meaningful summer internship opportunity for a highly-motivated first-year law student. Through this partnership, NAPABA will select one student to join the 2015 Prudential summer law intern class for a 10-week internship at Prudential’s New Jersey/New York offices.

More information can be found here. Applications due January 9, 2015.

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A Day of Giving: MBBA/URI Holiday Event with Domestic Violence Survivors, Dec. 20

Please join the Metropolitan Black Bar Association on Saturday, December 20th from 12:00pm – 3:00pm as we bring holiday cheer, gifts and hope to women and children residing at a domestic violence shelter in Harlem.

This holiday party and toy drive benefits underprivileged families in NYC who are residing at an Urban Resource Institute (URI) domestic violence shelter during the holiday season. URI is a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding domestic violence victims and their children. Founded in 1980, URI serves 1,400 individuals annually and provides crisis intervention, counseling, emergency and transitional shelter, legal assistance, job training and community. For additional information regarding URI, visitwww.urinyc.org.

Volunteers and donations are needed! Donations may be  purchased at Amazon.com under the wish list “MBBA Holiday Book and Toy Drive.“  Help brighten the holidays for families in need by donating toys and volunteering to help serve food, play games, and participate in arts and crafts. Share your time, laughter, and talents for a great cause!

Donations may be dropped off at the following courts: 

Civil Court Kings County – 141 Livingston Street, 7th and 10th Floors, Brooklyn, NY
Supreme Court Kings County – 360 Adams Street, 10th Floor, Brooklyn NY
Supreme Court New York County – 60 Centre Street, 5th Floor Security, New York, NY
Supreme Court New York County – 80 Center Street, Room 101, New York, NY
Supreme Court New York County – 71 Thomas Street, Room 200, New York, NY

Registrants will be informed of the confidential location of the Holiday Party upon registration.

If you have questions regarding this program, please contact the MBBA at info@mbbanyc.org.

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New-York Historical Society | 22 Lewd Chinese Women: A Trial Reenactment

New-York Historical Society | 22 Lewd Chinese Women: A Trial Reenactment

New-York History Museum

What ever became of the 22 Chinese women that landed on the shores of San Francisco in 1874 only to be detained for their lewdness?

You might remember that on October 18, the Honorable Denny Chin and his wife Kathy Hirata Chin led yet another performance of the popular trial re-enactment “22 Lewd Chinese Women: A Trial Reenactment,” this time a shortened version at the New York Historical Society. Thanks to the resourcefulness of the New York Historical Society, we can bring you the gift of this podcast, which features not only many members of our AABANY cast, but also a question-and-answer session with Hon. Denny Chin, Kathy Hirata Chin, Vince Chang, and David Weinberg. For anyone who has not yet had their daily dose of human rights, sex trafficking, and federalism, we invite you to listen. 

Click on the link above to access the recording through the New York Historical Society’s website. The podcast can also be found on iTunes U. 

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