Tag: aanhpi

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NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Judge Anne Hwang to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

For Immediate Release:
Date: December 3, 2024		Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Anne Hwang to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

“NAPABA applauds the confirmation of Judge Anne Hwang,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “An active member of the community, Judge Hwang is a 2019 APABA Los Angeles Trailblazer in the Law awardee. She will serve in a District with nearly one million AANHPI residents.”  

In 2018, former governor Jerry Brown appointed Judge Hwang to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Prior to her appointment, Judge Hwang served as a Deputy Federal Public Defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California from 2006 to 2018, becoming Chief Deputy Federal Public Defender in 2018. Before entering public service, Hwang was an associate at Irell and Manella LLP from 2002 to 2006. Hwang received a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California School of Law.

“Today, 41 AANHPI Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden Administration, and 71 AANHPI active Article III judges are serving,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Judge Anne Hwang and Senator Padilla and Senator Butler for supporting her nomination.”

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Sharad Desai to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

For Immediate Release:
Date: November 19, 2024		Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Sharad Desai to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Mr. Desai is the first Asian American Article III judge to serve in the District of Arizona.

“NAPABA applauds the historic confirmation of Sharad Desai,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “An active member of the community and an advocate of diversity and inclusion, Mr. Desai brings experiential diversity as an in-house counsel to a District where the AANHPI population has grown over 50 percent over the last decade.”

Sharad H. Desai has been Vice President and General Counsel for Honeywell International’s Integrated Supply Chain and Information Technology divisions in Phoenix, Arizona, since 2023. He has worked in senior legal counsel roles at Honeywell since 2015. From 2007 to 2015, Mr. Desai worked as an attorney with the Phoenix law firm Osborn Maledon, P.A., first as an associate and later as a partner. He began his legal career as a law clerk for Justice Rebecca White Berch on the Arizona Supreme Court from 2006 to 2007. Mr. Desai received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2006 and his B.A. and B.S. from the University of Arizona in 2003.

“Nearly 20% of President Biden’s confirmed Article III judges are AANHPI,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “Today, 40 AANHPI Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden Administration, and 70 AANHPI active Article III judges are serving.”

NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating and Senator Sinema and Senator Kelly for supporting Sharad Desai’s historic nomination.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Amir H. Ali to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

For Immediate Release:
Date: November 19, 2024		Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Amir H. Ali to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

“NAPABA congratulates Amir Ali on his confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “Mr. Ali is an experienced civil rights litigator known for building coalitions, setting multiple landmark precedents at the U.S. Supreme Court and appellate courts that transcend ideology. NAPABA is proud to have supported his nomination.”

Amir H. Ali served as President and Executive Director of the MacArthur Justice Center from 2021-24 and Director of the Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic at Harvard Law School since 2018. Previously, Mr. Ali worked in private practice as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP in Washington, DC, from 2013-17. He also served as a law clerk for Justice Marshall Rothstein on the Supreme Court of Canada from 2012-13 and Judge Raymond C. Fisher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2011-12. Mr. Ali received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2011 and his B.S.E. from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, in 2008.

“In President Biden’s single term, he has tied the number of AANHPI judges confirmed under the five terms of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “Thirty-nine AANHPIs to Article III judges have been confirmed since 2021, and 69 AANHPI active Article III judges are serving.”

We thank President Biden for nominating and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for recommending and supporting Mr. Ali’s nomination.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Judge Mustafa Kasubhai to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

For Immediate Release:
Date: November 19, 2024		Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Mustafa Kasubhai to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Judge Kasubhai is the first Asian American Article III judge in the District and the first American Muslim to serve within the Ninth Circuit.

“NAPABA congratulates Judge Mustafa Kasubhai on his confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon,” said Thy Bui, President of NAPABA. “A 2018 NAPABA Trailblazer, Judge Kasubhai represents the best and brightest of our profession and membership.”

Judge Mustafa Kasubhai has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Oregon since 2018. Previously, Judge Kasubhai served as a Circuit Court Judge in Lane County, Oregon, from 2007 to 2018. Prior to his appointment to the state bench, Judge Kasubhai served on the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board from 2003 to 2007. From 1997 to 2003, Judge Kasubhai worked in three different private practice roles—as a solo practitioner, as a partner at Kasubhai & Sanchez, and as an associate at Rasmussen, Tyler & Mundorff. Judge Kasubhai received his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1996 and his B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992

“President Biden has nominated 42 AANHPIs to Article III courts, and 38 have been confirmed,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “We thank President Biden for nominating and Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley for supporting Judge Kasubhai’s historic nomination.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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NAPABA Congratulates President-Elect Trump and Vice President-Elect Vance

WASHINGTON – As reported by the Associated Press, Donald J. Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, have earned a sufficient number of electoral votes to be the next President and Vice President of the United States. NAPABA congratulates them and is committed to working with the new administration and Congress to advance the interests of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing the interests of well over 80,000 AANHPI legal professionals. Our community is diverse, spanning across cultures, language, and political ideologies. NAPABA has worked diligently with presidents, administrations, and congressional members of both parties to advance the interests of our community.

As an organization of legal professionals, we bear a special responsibility to uphold the rule of law. NAPABA will continue to advance justice, with the AANHPI community at the forefront along with all communities of color, our values, and our policy positions. We must partner together, despite our political differences, for our country to achieve progress.

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A Final Call to Action: Amplify Your Voice in This Critical Election Season

With only a week remaining in this high-stakes election season, now is the time to ensure our communities are heard and empowered. The NAPABA Policy Team is sharing the following source to support you in making a lasting impact in these final days.

Join the APIAVote multilingual hotline initiative as a volunteer! NAPABA has partnered with Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) to offer our AANHPI communities a hotline providing vital voter information in multiple languages. This is a non-partisan, multilingual informational hotline designed to help members of our community find polling places, understand how to register to vote, and ensure they have timely and factual information needed to get to the polls.

APIAVote needs persons fluent in Bengali/Bangla, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu and has a specific urgent need for persons fluent in Korean, Mandarin, and Vietnamese!

Here is what you can expect as a volunteer:

  • Provide live, remote assistance from Monday, October 7th leading up to Election Day on Tuesday, November 5th! 
  • Return calls to voters who left voicemails asking for voter assistance  
  • Be supported every step of the way by the co-captains of APIA Vote’s Hotline: Jean Ger, Zaria Guignard, Mike Messina, Hannah Locop, and Yu Jing Chen  
  • Hotline captains will be online and available to assist every day 
  • No prior experience is required – all training will be provided via Zoom throughout the election cycle. 

This election season is one of the most significant in recent history, and your involvement is crucial. Sign up to volunteer here! After registering, you’ll have access to on-demand training and a community of dedicated leaders ready to assist every step of the way.

For additional resources, including volunteer opportunities and voting information, visit NAPABA’s 2024 Voting Hub.

Thank you for your commitment to empowering the AANHPI community. Your voice and leadership help shape a more inclusive, informed future. Let’s make this final week count.

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2024-25 Board of Governors: Officer & Director Elections Results

NAPABA is committed to having a governing board that reflects the diverse AANHPI legal community and has the right blend of skill, expertise, community connections, and diverse perspectives. We value an inclusive culture that embraces our diversity and empowers leaders to engage with each other and the community in a meaningful way by building trust, increasing transparency, and maximizing impact.

The following individuals were elected by the NAPABA membership to serve on the 2024-25 NAPABA Board of Governors. Join us in welcoming these leaders.


Joseph Yao
President-Elect
Jason DeJonker
Secretary

Arlene Yang
Treasurer
Alen Hsu
Director
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NAPABA Warns Against Hateful and Divisive Political Rhetoric and Calls for National Unity to Stem the Tide of Hate

For Immediate Release:
Date: September 24, 2024		Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) submitted a written statement for the record to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee that highlighted the dangers of divisive, reckless rhetoric and called on leaders to guard against the continuing demonization of immigrants and communities of color. During the Committee’s hearing on September 17, 2024, entitled, “A Threat to Justice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America,” a senator baselessly accused one of the witnesses, Maya Berry, an Arab American civil rights leader, of supporting foreign terrorist organizations. Despite the witness clearly and repeatedly stating that she did not support such organizations, the senator continued to interrogate her relentlessly.

“We have seen this playbook before, unfortunately, and members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community are no stranger to such offensive, differential treatment solely because of their national origin or religion,” observed Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “For example, in this same Committee nine months ago, Adeel Mangi, a nominee to be a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, also endured hostile treatment based solely on his religion. Our national leaders must do better to avoid dangerous rhetoric, which can lead to horrific results in our communities if left unchecked.”

“The disturbing episode involving Maya Berry is reminiscent of the historical experience of so many members of the AANHPI community being labeled as ‘perpetual foreigners,’” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “In recent years, we have seen states throughout the country introduce and enact restrictions on the property rights of Asian Americans, and during this hearing, the Committee heard testimony of the rise of hate against Asian Americans following the false scapegoating against them during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Especially in this political season, NAPABA’s statement called on leaders to “avoid the reckless rhetoric” and on all Americans to “unite in common cause to tackle our Nation’s problems together.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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NAPABA Condemns Passage of Bills That Would Reinstate the “China Initiative” and Plant the Seeds for a National Alien Land Law

For Immediate Release:
Date: September 12, 2024		Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – On September 11, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed two bills that, if enacted, would racially profile members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community under the guise of national security. While policymakers have the prerogative to address the legitimate national security concerns confronting the United States, they may not enact discriminatory laws that target the AANHPI community. In no uncertain terms, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) condemns the actions of the House, which instill unwarranted fear and suspicion on individuals solely because of their national origin.
First, the House passed H.R. 1398, Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2024, a bill that would reinstate the disbanded and discredited China Initiative program within the U.S. Department of Justice. NAPABA has previously denounced the China Initiative, which created a chilling effect around scholars of Chinese ancestry and, at worst, countenanced impermissible racial profiling.

Second, the House passed H.R. 9456, Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024, a bill that would require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review any agricultural land purchases, regardless of size or scope, by any person from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran, even if they are lawfully present in the United States, green card holders, have nothing to do with the regimes in these countries, or refugees fleeing persecution from those governments. By mandating such a referral to CFIUS, the bill would effectively designate any individual from those countries as a national security risk based solely on national origin.

NAPABA has long opposed legislation that discriminates based on national origin alone rather than on evidence of malign conduct and has worked with policymakers at all levels to avoid discriminatory policies. Such policies equate ordinary Chinese, Korean, Iranian, and other persons with governments, political parties, or state-owned enterprises even if they have no affiliation with such entities. While NAPABA recognizes the geopolitical tensions and competition with countries such as China, the passage of laws that restrict civil rights without an appropriate and legitimate, evidence-based nexus to national security creates an atmosphere of distrust that easily targets Asian Americans, not just those of Chinese descent.  As the political rhetoric rises in this election season, leaders must avoid actions that promote bigotry and racism against Asian Americans.

NAPABA objects to the passage of these bills and calls on the United States Senate to reject them.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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2024 NAPABA President’s Award: A Celebration of Three Women Leaders

For Immediate Release:
Date: September 9, 2024		Contact:
Maureen Gelwicks, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association proudly announces that the 2024 NAPABA President’s Award will be presented to Nancy P. Lee, Wendy C. Shiba, and Priya Purandare—three pioneering women leaders. Their transformative work has significantly impacted the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community and the legal profession over the last four decades.

The NAPABA President’s Award is given annually to individuals or entities who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the AANHPI community.

“Throughout my career, I have worked to empower women and the AANHPI community. As my presidency comes to a close, I have selected three women who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for years and set a high bar for all to follow. They have left an indelible mark not just on me but our organization and the profession as well,” said NAPABA President Anna Mercado Clark. “Former NAPABA Presidents Nancy P. Lee and Wendy C. Shiba, and NAPABA Executive Director Priya Purandare have each worked to advance and mentor women in the profession and have created a more inclusive NAPABA. I am pleased to recognize them with the 2024 President’s Award.”

Nancy P. Lee, 6th President of NAPABA (1994-95), 4th President of NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF), and NAPABA Trailblazer, is an experienced nonprofit and corporate governance attorney. Lee’s efforts through the formative years to lead the strategic vision and planning for NAPABA and its foundation and her concurrent service as chair of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, established the foundation for the AANHPI community and our organization to have the voice we have today.

Wendy Shiba, 24th President of NAPABA (2012-13) and NAPABA Trailblazer, is a retired C-suite executive and continues to serve as NAPABA’s representative to the ABA’s House of Delegates and Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, Presidential Appointments Committee, and Vice Chair of the Committee on Rights of Women on the ABA Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice. A mentor to many NAPABA woman presidents, Shiba’s influence and guidance have elevated NAPABA’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier professional organizations.

Priya Purandare, NAPABA Executive Director and longest-tenured staff member in the organization’s history, has transformed and led NAPABA by expanding programs, diversifying funding sources, doubling its budget and reserves, and growing its membership—now representative of 80,000 AANHPI legal professionals. A nationally recognized voice for the AANHPI legal community, she has advised three presidential administrations on judicial nominations, hate crimes, and other critical issues of importance to our community.

NAPABA congratulates Nancy P. Lee, Wendy C. Shiba, and Priya Purandare as this year’s President’s Awardees. The work of each awardee has made our community stronger. The award will be presented on Saturday, November 9, during the Gala at the 2024 NAPABA Convention in Seattle.  

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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