Official blog of the Asian American Bar Association of New York
NYCLA Hosts Free Law Student Networking Event on 9/7
Get coupon for $200 off Bar Bri review course just for showing up! Plus Mentor-for-a-Day auction: Who knows? You just might spend a day deliberating in chambers with a judge. Click on the link in the title to find out more and to register. It’s FREE.
Download Fall Conference Brochure in PDF
Reminder: AABANY’s Fall Conference taking place on September 17 at Skadden and sponsored by Wells Fargo and Veritext, has an early bird deadline that closes today, Sept. 1. Sign up today and save. AABANY members, who get discounted rates, will save even more. Click here to be taken to the registration page. Click on the link in the title to download the Fall Conference brochure that describes the 16 programs you can choose from. We hope to see you there.
NAPABA Press Release on Goodwin Liu Confirmation
WASHINGTON – Today, the three-member panel of the California Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed Professor Goodwin H. Liu’s nomination to the California Supreme Court. He will be sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California tomorrow in Sacramento by Governor Jerry Brown. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association congratulates Professor Liu on his confirmation.
Recent College Graduates Wait for Their Real Careers to Begin – NYTimes.com
Interesting article about unemployed and under-employed grads from classes of ‘06-’10 dubbed Generation Limbo. We may be seeing our own Generation Limbo in law today, with the contraction of the economy over the last few years. Of note is the following quote:
“What was the point of working so hard for 22 years if there was nothing out there?” said Ms. Morales, who is now a paralegal and plans on attending law school.
Someone tell Ms. Morales that the grass is not any greener on the law side of the fence.
A 27-year-old Yale graduate quoted at the end of the article, I think, has the right idea:
“You have to make opportunities happen for yourself, and I think a lot of my classmates weren’t thinking in that way,” he said. “It’s the equivalent of setting up your own lemonade stand.”
More and more of our young lawyers are hanging out their shingles at a very early point in their careers, which might be the way to go. We hope that they’re availing themselves to the mentors and other resources that may be out there to help them along in pursuing that road.
What do you think?
NYT: Goodwin Liu Confirmed for CA Supreme Court
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Goodwin Liu, a University of California law professor whose confirmation to a federal appeals court was blocked in the U.S. Senate, was confirmed on Wednesday to serve as a justice on California’s top court.
Tribute and Remembrance: Asian Americans After 9/11
From AAARI/CUNY:
Commissioned by the Asian American Federation in 2003, Tribute and Remembrance documents the extensive effects the 9/11 tragedy had on the Asian American community, by examining the economic impact of Chinatown, the toll on taxi cab drivers, INS deportation of Muslims, the mental health impact and 3 victims’ family stories. In addition, it highlights some of the philanthropic efforts of the Asian American community following the tragedy.
This screening and lecture is scheduled for Sept. 9. For full details follow the link in the title.
Join us tonight for AABANY’s End of Summer Happy Hour
Hope to see you at Roam NYC.
Here’s the text from NYCLA’s press release on this important issue:
CONTACT: Anita Aboulafia 212 267-6646 ext. 225 [email protected]
NYCLA Task Force Concludes Judicial Budget Cuts on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York May Heighten Security Risks
NYCLA Task Force suggests lack of funding has negative effects on court operations.
New York, NY – August 26, 2011 – The New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA) Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts, focusing on the effects of budget cuts on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, released a Preliminary Report that concludes security may be at risk at the Daniel P. Moynihan Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street and overall courthouse operations will be affected as a result of anticipated personnel reductions.
“The NYCLA Preliminary Report documents the effect that budget cuts had on the court this current year and will have in fiscal year 2012,” said NYCLA President Stewart D. Aaron. “The Southern District of New York is the Mother Court, the oldest district court in the country. It is important that the Congress and President Barack Obama pay particular heed to the effect of budget cuts in the Southern District, not only because of the impacts on that court, but also because they are emblematic of the issues faced by federal courts around the country.”
The Preliminary Report, released on August 25, includes a detailed letter from Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York, Hon. Loretta A. Preska, noting that fundamental security issues identified in September 2002 have never been addressed due to budgetary considerations. According to the Report, “The courthouse is an obvious terrorist target and has an average of 2,500 visitors or more per day.”
Highlights from the report include:
- Lack of funding has resulted in delays in construction of a visitor’s screening pavilion outside the Moynihan Courthouse public entrance and delays in the relocation and protection of the air intakes.
- Fiscal year 2011 saw budget cuts of 7.6%, resulting in reductions in non-personnel spending.
- Further budget reductions are anticipated for fiscal year 2012, which may require non-judicial personnel reductions of up to 15%.
- In the event of a shutdown, “non-essential” personnel would be furloughed.
“Security at the Courthouse and the safety of Court personnel, attorneys and the public are matters of paramount concern that should be addressed immediately,” said Michael McNamara, chair of the Task Force’s Federal Courts Subcommittee.
Hon. Stephen G. Crane and Michael Miller, co-chairs of the Task Force, stated, “As this report demonstrates, the Federal Court has not been immune to budget cuts.” The Task Force plans to conduct a more in-depth investigation over the next several months, which will include sponsoring a public hearing at NYCLA in the fall, and the preparation of a more comprehensive report on the impact of the budget cuts on the administration of justice.
About the New York County Lawyers’ Association
The New York County Lawyers’ Association (www.nycla.org) was founded in 1908 as the first major bar association in the country that admitted members without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or gender. Since its inception, it has pioneered some of the most far-reaching and tangible reforms in American jurisprudence and has continuously played an active role in legal developments and public policy.
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Profile of Hon. Denny Chin by Vince Chang
Vince Chang, past AABANY President, wrote a profile about Judge Chin that appeared in the August 2011 issue of Federal Lawyer, a publication of the Federal Bar Association. Click on the link in the title to read the profile.