Official blog of the Asian American Bar Association of New York
Tsui Yee’s Interview with The Epoch Times
Congratulations to Immigration and Nationality Law Committee Co-Chair Tsui Yee who was interviewed in the May 24, 2013 edition of Epoch Times, a Chinese-language daily newspaper, regarding the hot topic of comprehensive immigration reform. For more about the article follow the link in the title.
The NAPABA Pro Bono and Community Service Committee introduces the disaster relief database. The database provides information on federal and local level resources on disaster relief and preparation. To address the needs of limited English proficient members of the APA community, many of the resources on the database are available in various Asian languages.
The Entertainment Committee of The City Bar
We welcome all talent!
On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, the Immigration and Nationality Law Committee organized a committee meeting and was honored to have as its featured speaker Rosemary Yu, Co-Director of the Immigrant Affairs Program at the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Yu spoke about the important work of the Immigrant Affairs Program, which was established in 2007 to investigate and prosecute fraud committed against immigrants, and to educate the public about immigration fraud and related issues through fraud prevention workshops and seminars. Ms. Yu also discussed ways that attorneys can help identify and prevent immigration fraud – an especially relevant and timely topic in light of impending comprehensive immigration reform, which is expected to pass later this year.
If you are interested in learning more about the Immigrant Affairs Program of the New York County DA’s Office or want to get more information about the Immigration and Nationality Law Committee, contact co-chairs Rio Guerrero and Tsui Yee at immigration-chairs@aabany.org.
NAPABA Policy Director Emily Chatterjee passes along this request from Rajdeep Singh of the Sikh Coalition calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on the proliferation of hate crimes and hate groups in this country:
Dear Colleagues:
Please find attached our group letter here, urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings next month on hate crimes. A grand total of 154 organizations endorsed the letter. Thank you for your tireless efforts to spread the word about this letter through your networks!
During the next few days, as the Judiciary Committee reviews our letter, please consider taking the additional steps:
1. Contact the Senate Judiciary Committee directly and urge them to prioritize hearings.
2. Ask your members to contact the offices of Judiciary Committee members by phone and email.
3. Create awareness about this issue through community advisories, blog posts, Facebook, and Twitter.
4. Issue press releases to your media contacts to generate public awareness about this issue.
5. Write op/eds about the need for increased focus by policymakers on hate crimes in America
Let’s hope for the best. Again, we are grateful for your support and look forward to working with you again soon.Best regards,
Raj–
Rajdeep Singh
Director of Law and Policy
The Sikh Coalition
Phone: (202) 747-4944
Email: rajdeep@sikhcoalition.org
Website: www.sikhcoalition.org
Donate: www.sikhdonate.org
Karen Kim, co-chair of the Litigation Committee, reports on that Committee’s recent CLE program on deposition basics:
On July 11, 2012, the Litigation Committee presented a “Depositions Bootcamp + Ethics Minefield” CLE with the following panel of senior litigators: Vincent T. Chang (Partner at Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch), James P. Chou (Senior Counsel at Akin Gump Hauer Strauss & Feld LLP), Tristan C. Loanzon (Principal at Loanzon Sheikh LLC), Concepcion A. Montoya (Partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP), James S. Yu (Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP) and Yang Chen (Executive Director of AABANY). The panel was moderated by AABANY Litigation Committee co-chair William Wang (Partner at Lee Anav Chung LLP). Winston & Strawn LLP did an exceptional job hosting the event, with the assistance of Louis A. Russo, an associate at Winston & Strawn LLP and the staff, taking the event to the next level.
The CLE was well attended and a great success, thanks to the wonderful panelists who explained the basics of depositions, how to prep a witness for deposition, and the nuances of ethics while also doing a demonstration of what not to do in a deposition. CLE materials were provided, which included resources attendees can reference for guidance, articles, PowerPoint slides and caselaw on important developments and aspects of depositions. Overall, the attendees found the CLE informative and comprehensive and “one of the best CLEs” with a “very knowledgeable panel." With the help of Francis Chin from the Professional Development Committee, attendees left with certificates for 3 CLE credits, including one hour in Ethics credit.
Stay tuned to the LC because in October, the committee is planning a depositions workshop where attendees will actually get to take mock depositions and receive critique from this (tentatively scheduled to appear) panel of distinguished litigators.
Brian Lee, Deputy Chief of the County Court Bureau, Nassau County D.A.’s office, reports:
On June 28, 2012, the Prosecutors’ Committee held its 4th Anniversary Reception at the New York University School of Law, Vanderbilt Hall. This year, the Prosecutors’ Committee, co-chaired by Cristina S. W. Park of the Bronx County D.A.’s Office and James S. Lin of the New York County D.A.’s Office, honored Sandra Leung, General Counsel of Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Thomas M. Chan, Assistant Chief of the New York City Police Department. Ms. Leung was the first female Asian American prosecutor in the New York County D.A.’s Office, and in her speech, recounted how her invaluable experience as a prosecutor propelled her rapid rise in the ranks at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Assistant Chief Chan is the highest ranking Asian American officer in NYPD’s history, and during his address, spoke of his passion to help the community as the driving force behind his illustrious career. These two individuals were honored for their dedication to diversity and as trailblazers for the Asian American community in New York.
The honorees and attendees were welcomed by Jeannie Forrest, the Vice-Dean of NYU School of Law. Nearly 120 guests attended the reception and congratulatory remarks were given by: Charles J. Hynes, the District Attorney of Kings County; Daniel R. Alonso, the Chief ADA for New York County; Daniel L. Master, the Chief ADA for Richmond County; Jesse J. Sligh, an Executive ADA for Queens County; and Steven M. Goldstein, the Chief ADA for the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. Closing remarks were delivered by Jean Lee, the President of AABANY.
Dignitaries in attendance at the reception included Judge Doris Ling-Cohan, New York State Supreme Court, Judge Gilbert C. Hong, New York City Criminal Court, Daniel D. Chu, Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and Hugh H. Mo, one of last year’s Trailblazer Honorees. The reception was covered by members of the media.