In the op-ed “Time for Change: Addressing Underrepresentation of Asian American Judges in the New York State Judiciary,” published on January 14, 2025, in the New York Law Journal, former Presiding Justice Randall T. Eng (Ret.) addresses the longstanding underrepresentation of Asian Americans in the New York State judiciary. While progress has been made since his historic appointment as the first Asian American judge in the state in 1983, the numbers remain glaring. Asian Americans, who constitute about 15% of New York City’s population, occupy only 5% of the judiciary statewide. Of the 1,300 state-paid judges, just 68 are Asian American, and many counties have never had an Asian American judge in positions of significant judicial power.
Justice Eng stresses the significance of leadership roles in the judiciary, pointing out that “there are 105 administrative and supervisory positions throughout the state… only five are held by Asian Americans, and there are none within OCA’s [Office of Court Administration] executive leadership team.” He also draws attention to historic firsts, such as Kathy Hirata Chin being shortlisted for the Court of Appeals vacancy in 2012 but emphasizes the need for urgent action, because to date no Asian American has been appointed to the New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.
Despite some progress, systemic inequities persist. For example, only three counties – Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn – have elected Asian Americans to the Supreme Court, while the remaining 59 counties remain without representation. Justice Eng asserts that true progress requires collective effort and advocacy: “We need to take it to the next step. We need to start saying as a community ‘it should be us.’” He calls on the community to expect and demand nominations for future vacancies, ensuring that representation reflects the diversity of the state.
To read Justice Eng’s call for change, op-ed in full, click here. (subscription required).
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.”
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.”
### 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.
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.
### 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.
NAPABA Honors Don Liu with the NAPABA INSPIRE Award
WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is proud to announce that Don Liu, who recently announced his retirement as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer of Target Corp., will receive the NAPABA INSPIRE Award. The NAPABA INSPIRE Award is presented to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions of national significance towards achieving representation and influence for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) in the legal profession and society. The NAPABA INSPIRE Award has been awarded only twice in NAPABA’s history — the first time to former Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakayue of the California Supreme Court in 2010, and the second to George Takei, actor, author, and activist, in 2016.
Don Liu, a nationally renowned leader and legal counsel for several of the Nation’s most recognized corporations, has made a steadfast, lifelong commitment to ensuring that AANHPI attorneys can thrive and advance to the highest levels of the legal profession. He co-founded NAPABA’s 10X10 Initiative and later the 20X20 Initiative, originally designed as an aspirational “stretch” five-year effort to place 20 AANHPI General Counsels at Fortune 500 companies by 2020. The initiative was so successful that it inspired the current 50X25 Initiative and the development of the Hispanic National Bar Association’s Poder 25 Initiative, for which Don serves as a strategic advisor. Don Liu founded NAPABA’s In-House Counsel (IHC) Network, served as its first chair, spearheaded the creation of NAPABA’s IHC Summit and IHC Mentoring Program and continues to be active in its programs. Under Don’s leadership, the IHC Network has assisted countless AANHPI attorneys in gaining greater professional visibility and helped promote countless AANHPI lawyers into senior in-house counsel positions.
“Don Liu recognized early on his career that the barriers he faced as a young attorney can be overcome, and he helped build an entire infrastructure to steer and guide AANHPI lawyers on a path to success,” said Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “The NAPABA INSPIRE Award is a testament to Don’s dedication to increasing diversity in the profession, his courage in standing up for a more just society, creativity and vision, and his relentless dedication in mentoring hundreds of young attorneys.”
The NAPABA INSPIRE Award also recognizes Don Liu’s contributions towards improving our community on a national scale. Responding to the overwhelming need to deliver legal services to victims, Don Liu, together with several Asian American leaders within the legal profession, founded the Alliance for Asian American Justice. The Alliance brought together the collective power of both large law firms and legal departments to form a pro bono legal services network dedicated to ensuring that victims of hate would receive the legal assistance that they need. It provided opportunities not only for firms, but also for corporations to join the collective effort opposing anti-Asian hate. For these reasons and many more, NAPABA is privileged to recognize the incredible work and dedication of Don Liu with the NAPABA INSPIRE Award.
NAPABA will formally present the award during the Gala at the 2024 NAPABA Convention in Seattle on Saturday, November 9.
### 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.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), in collaboration with the American Bar Foundation, is proud to announce the release of A Portrait of Asian Americans in the Law 2.0: Identity and Action in Challenging Times (Portrait Project 2.0). Building on the results of the original Portrait Project report published in 2017, this five-year follow-up study provides comprehensive data and analysis on the progress and experiences of Asian Americans in the legal profession.
“Portrait Project 2.0 is a crucial resource for lawyers, policymakers, researchers, and advocates seeking to advance diversity in the legal profession,” said Sandra Leung, president of NAPABA. “By spotlighting the experiences of Asian American attorneys, this new report calls attention to our community’s successes and challenges, and provides troves of data that will inform efforts to promote equity and inclusion in a variety of sectors and organizations. We are proud that this report quantifies the advances we have made on the bench and in the C-Suite. However, we recognize that Asian Americans remain underrepresented in the highest ranks of law firms, education, and in public service and commit to investing in career development in those sectors.”
“The findings of Portrait Project 2.0 highlight the importance of NAPABA’s ongoing work to develop innovate programs to help attorneys at all stages of their career lifecycle, from law school to retirement, to advance and find personal fulfillment in their profession,” said Priya Purandare, executive director of NAPABA. “As we learned five years ago, legal employers and legal networks must make more strategic investments in supporting Asian American attorneys by facilitating relationship-building, helping young lawyers develop soft skills, and providing leadership opportunities. Further, they must invest in meaningful interventions that combat institutional bias and stereotypes. This report underscores the opportunity top organizations across sectors have to attract and retain top-talent by creating supportive and value driven cultures.”
The 77-page report — authored by Tyler Dang, Katherine Fang, Benji Lu, Michael Tayag, and California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu — combines detailed analysis of employment data in various legal sectors with qualitative insights from focus groups and results of a wide-ranging national survey completed by over 700 Asian American lawyers.
This five-year update offers fresh insights into Asian American career advancement and political participation against the backdrop of a rise in anti-Asian hate. Among the key findings:
Asian American attorneys indicated greater engagement with social and political issues. Those seeking to change practice settings ranked a desire to advance issues important to them among their most significant reasons for doing so. This was ranked among the least significant reasons in 2016.
47% of survey respondents reported having become more involved in community organizations, protests, or other forms of advocacy on behalf of Asian Americans since March 2020, suggesting recent societal events may be influenced this behavior.
There has been progress in the appointment of federal judges and in the ranks of general counsel. The number of Asian American federal judges has increased over the past five years, comprising 6% of active federal judges compared to 3.4% in 2016.
Underrepresentation of Asian Americans in the top ranks of the legal profession persists. Asian Americans are the largest minority group at major law firms, but they have the lowest ratio of partners to associates — and the highest attrition rate. Further, they remain underrepresented among law clerks, law professors, state court judges, and state and federal prosecutors.
Asian American attorneys would likely benefit from greater institutional supports that counteract stereotypes and facilitate relationship-building and leadership opportunities.
NAPABA thanks Justice Goodwin Liu and the American Bar Foundation for their continued partnership, support, and investment in our vision of a community where Asian Pacific Americans achieve representation, success, and influence within the legal profession and beyond. #
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 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 APA 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.
NAPABA | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 300 | Washington, DC 20006 | www.napaba.org
NAPABA Community Service Corps works to preserve the memory of Chin
WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association commemorates the 40th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin. On June 19, 1982, Vincent Chin, a Chinese American industrial draftsman, was brutally beaten in a racially motivated attack during a wave of anti-Japanese sentiment and died as a result of his injuries a few days later. Vincent Chin’s death and his killers’ lenient sentences marked a turning point in Asian Pacific American civil rights advocacy in the United States.
“With the dramatic spike in hate violence perpetrated against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, honoring Vincent Chin serves as a poignant reminder that more still needs to be done to rid our society of xenophobic hate and ensure our community’s voice is heard,” said A.B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA. “Mr. Chin’s senseless death and subsequent trial underscored the importance of the Asian Pacific American community standing together in the fight against racism and advocating in the courts. We must continue to build on this legacy by continuing to oppose hate and violence in all forms.”
Chin’s murder and the sentences of his killers highlighted the lack of a strong national voice for Asian Pacific Americans within this country’s legal system. Recognizing the need to establish such representation, NAPABA was founded in 1988 to give voice to values of justice, equity, and opportunity for Asian Pacific Americans. Since that time, NAPABA has been strongly committed to civil rights advocacy.
With the current rise in hate crimes targeting diverse communities, the NAPABA Community Service Corps works to provide opportunities for its members to take action for impact locally and nationally. NAPABA is a co-sponsor of the first-ever Unity March on June 25, 2022, an Asian American multicultural event to advance socioeconomic and cultural equity, racial justice, and solidarity. NAPABA Community Service Corps opportunities to engage in the Unity March and other projects to protect and advocate for civil rights honors the memory of Vincent Chin.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 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 APA 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.
Deadline June 30 The Nominations and Elections Subcommittee is accepting nominations for Officer and Director candidates and applications for At-Large Board Member candidates for the 2022-23 NAPABA Board of Governors.
As the nation’s largest Asian Pacific American membership organization, NAPABA continues to grow exponentially—maturity, stature, and staff. The NAPABA Board of Governors is an oversight and governing body committed to the mission and purpose of NAPABA. The governing Board of 23 and national staff of nine complement and support each other—together focused on NAPABA’s mission through different perspectives and actions.
NAPABA is committed to having a governing board that reflects the diverse Asian Pacific American legal community and has the right blend of skill, expertise, community connections, and diverse perspectives as a whole. We seek outstanding individuals of high character and integrity with proven leadership and board governance skills and who have demonstrated a strong commitment to NAPABA. The deadline for Officer and Director nominations and At-Large Board Member applications is June 30, 2022 at 8:00 pm ET.
To be considered for a NAPABA Officer, Director, or At-Large position, candidates must be a current individual member in good standing as of the date that the nominations or applications are submitted.
In order to vote in the 2022-23 NAPABA Elections, you must be licensed to practice law in the United States or Canada (or have previously been licensed and now retired) and you must have activated your membership with NAPABA on or before July 1, 2022 at 11:59 PM ET. To check your status, please email [email protected].
Survey participation needed to better understand community needs during the pandemic
NAPABA has partnered with the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH) to conduct a survey to learn more about the ongoing experiences and needs of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders living in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Input from this survey will help develop resources and programs to support these communities. You can take the survey here and it will remain open until 1,000 responses are collected.
Purpose of the survey: We are trying to learn more about the current and ongoing experiences and needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility: (a) aged 18 or above; (b) self-identify as a(n) Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander; and (c) be a person living in the United States.
Survey languages available: Currently the survey is available in English. Languages coming soon: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Chuukese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Marshallese, Native Hawaiian, Nepali, Punjabi, Samoan, Tagalog, Tongan, Urdu, Vietnamese.
You will receive an Amazon gift card as a token of thanks for your participation after the survey has been completed. If you are interested in receiving the gift card, you will be asked to complete a short form at the end of the survey link. No survey information will be linked with your personal information.
If you have questions or concerns about the study, please reach out to Navdeep Singh, Interim Policy Director, at [email protected]. Feel free to share this link with your family and friends, but we ask that you refrain from posting on your social media.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 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 APA 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.
On December 31st, 2021 former AABANY Board Member Kevin Kim was selected as the first Korean American to hold the position of Commissioner of New York City Small Businesses where he will be responsible for running a dynamic City agency focused on connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building a thriving economy. Kevin also was selected on December 20th, 2021 to be a Commissioner to President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders which has been tasked with advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for AANHPI communities.
Kevin is a graduate of Stanford University and Columbia Law School where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Senior Editor of the Columbia Law Review. After graduating law school Kevin began his legal career as a law clerk for then United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York, Hon. Denny Chin. He then worked as an Associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell where he practiced corporate law.
Kevin has devoted his career to public service and specifically promoting greater Asian representation in positions of power. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the City University of New York and was elected to the national Board of Directors for the Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club. His past board service includes the American Red Cross in Queens, Friends of Thirteen (public media provider featuring PBS series), Korean American Association of Greater New York, and the Korean American Community Foundation. From 2014-2016, Kevin was the Commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority, becoming the first Asian American appointed to this position. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Kevin as a Trustee of the City University of New York, making him only the third Asian American and the first Korean American to serve on the CUNY Board of Trustees. In that position, he chaired the Audit Committee and is a member of the Subcommittee on Investments.
Kevin has received countless awards including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; Columbia Law School APALSA Hong Yen Chang Award for inspiring civic engagement; KAAGNY, Man of the Year; and City Hall News (“40 Under 40”).
Please join AABANY in congratulating Kevin on his appointments to these important positions.
On November 8, 2021, the New York Law Journal published an article co-authored by Pro Bono & Community Service Committee Co-Chair Karen King, together with fellow Morvillo Abramowitz Partner Telemachus Kasulis. The article is entitled “DOJ’s China Initiative’s Three-Year Anniversary: Growing Pains and Uncertainty.”
The article discussess how the Department of Justice’s “China Initiative” encourages discrimination and racial profiling against Asian Americans. The China initiative was started three years ago to combat economic and national security threats from the Chinese government. The article reveals how in reality only a small portion of cases involved actual charges of economic espionage or conspiracy. In one instance, a Chinese Canadian engineering professor, Anming Hu, was wrongly prosecuted for being a Chinese spy and was acquitted of all charges this past September.
The authors note a parallel of the China Initiative to other discriminatory acts: “Critics continue to liken the China Initiative to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, McCarthyism, and racial profiling against Muslims in the wake of the September 11th attacks.”
The article relates that the Biden administration has only made five new cases public. The authors note that the Biden administration appears to be stepping away from non-disclosure cases in which ties to the Chinese government appear weak.
To read the full article, click on the following link:
