Tag: discrimination

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NAPABA CELEBRATES LGBT PRIDE MONTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2014

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is proud to join the National Queer Asian Pacific American Alliance (NQAPIA) in celebrating the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. In recognition of LGBT Pride Month, this month the NAPABA logo will proudly display the colors of the rainbow flag that is often flown as a symbol of LGBT pride.

“This month, we celebrate our family and friends in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities,” said William J. Simonistch, president of NAPABA. “NAPABA has long recognized the contributions and struggles of the LGBT community. And as we recognize LGBT Pride Month, we are reminded once again of the need to commit ourselves to fight for the equal civil liberties of all.”

LGBT equality has long been a priority for NAPABA. Most recently, The Hill published an op-ed by NAPABA’s President opposing Arizona Senate Bill 1062, which would have given businesses the right to discriminate under the guise of religion, including discrimination based on sexual orientation. NAPABA also sent a letter to Arizona Governor Jane Brewer urging her to veto the bill, noting that if she did not do so, NAPABA would have to seriously consider relocating its 26th Annual Convention from Scottsdale.

NAPABA has for many years supported marriage equality, and has joined amicus briefs in support of marriage equality in federal and state courts throughout the nation, including amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court in Hollingsworth v. Perry and Windsor v. United States in 2013.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 68 state and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, 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 color in the legal profession.

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Meet Lu Jun, Human Rights Lawyer from China

Meet Lu Jun, Human Rights Lawyer from China

The raid on the office of a group that advocates for people with hepatitis comes at a precarious time for China’s civil society groups.

Along with the New York Office United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), we are pleased to host Lu Jun, a distinguished human rights lawyer from China in a visit to the EEOC on June 12, 2014 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Mr. Lu Jun is the Chief Coordinator of Beijing Yirenping Center (“Center for Promotion of Equality and Mercy “), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting social justice and public well-being in China. 

Yirenping offers education on communicable disease prevention and control, provides community outreach and assistance for patients, and works to eliminate discrimination. Mr. Lu is best known in China for his advocacy on behalf of carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), for which he has won recognition in China, Hong Kong, Italy, and elsewhere.

During this visit, Lu Jun will make a presentation to EEOC employee and AABANY members about his work in China.

After his presentation, lawyers knowledgeable about the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), New York State Attorney General’s Office, and the US EEOC will present on how rights of employees are (or not) enforced in the United States.

Please join us for an informal and informative conversation!

For more information click here.

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From St John’s and NYU Law Schools: Title VII at 50 Symposium

St. John's University

Title VII at 50 Symposium

The year 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, landmark legislation prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. By its enactment, notions of equality were more deeply embedded in United States public law. 

The Law Schools of St. John’s University and New York University are very proud to present the collaborative effort assessing the past, present and future of Title VII.

This two-day symposium will include the following topics:

  • The historical origins of Title VII and its current effectiveness
  • Reforms or amendments of Title VII in terms of its scope, implementation or interpretation
  • Important cultural, sociological, and societal changes wrought by Title VII

Visit our website for a full list of presenters.

Dates

Friday, April 4, 2014

St. John’s School of Law

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Belson Moot Court Room
2nd Floor
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439

Saturday, April 5, 2014

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

New York University School of Law

Vanderbilt Hall, Room 210
2nd Floor
40 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

Hosts
The Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development
St. John’s Center for Labor and Employment Law
St. John’s Center for International and Comparative Law
NYU Center for Labor and Employment Law
St. John’s Law Review
Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development
St. John’s Journal of International and Comparative Law

Sponsors
American Arbitration Association
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
LatinoJustice/PRLDEF
New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)
Society of American Law Teachers (SALT)

Registration for Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
The two-day Symposium qualifies for 9 non-transitional practice area CLE credit hours; 4 credits on Friday, 5 credits on Saturday. The CLE fee for each day is $150 or $225 for both days.

Payment
Complete and return the Continuing Legal Education form by April 1, 2014.

For credit card payment, e-mail the completed form to [email protected] or fax it to 718-990-5998. To pay by mail, send checks payable to St. John’s School of Law with the completed CLE form to:

Office of Continuing Legal Education
St. John’s University School of Law
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439

Hardship Guidelines
Hardship tuition reduction is available in special circumstances. Please refer to the form.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

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PRESS RELEASE: Accepting Applications for Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse
40 Centre Street
New York, New York 10007

ROBERT A. KATZMANN
CHIEF JUDGE

CATHERINE O’HAGAN WOLFE SALLY PRITCHARD 
CLERK OF COURT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

March 3, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Criminal Justice Act/Pro Bono Committee is accepting applications for the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel. The deadline is Friday, May 2, 2014.

Pro Bono Panel members will, at the Court’s invitation or on an appellant’s motion for appointment of counsel, represent pro se litigants in civil appeals that present issues of first impression, complex issues of law or fact, or raise potentially meritorious claims warranting further briefing and oral argument. Pro bono representation will be provided to litigants who would otherwise be unable to pay for counsel and are ineligible for the appointment of counsel pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act.

Cases in which pro bono counsel will be appointed cover a broad range of legal issues. A significant percentage of the cases are prisoner civil rights appeals; others may involve labor and employment, discrimination, social security, immigration and tax law.

Applicants must be admitted to and members in good standing of the Bar of the Second Circuit, or have an application pending before this Court, and have at least three years of appellate experience. Pro Bono Panel members will serve for a term not to exceed three years.

Pro Bono Panel Members who were appointed by the Court in 2011 for a three-year term must submit a new application if they wish to remain on the Panel. A completed application package contains a resume, a written application (available on the Court’s website at http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov) and three writing samples, preferably appellate briefs on which the applicant was the primary author. These materials must be submitted to Sally Pritchard, Director of Legal Affairs, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007, by Friday, May 2, 2014.

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PRESS RELEASE: NAPABA SUPPORTS GOVERNOR BREWER’S VETO OF HATEFUL ANTI-LGBT BILL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           February 27, 2014

Contact: Emily Chatterjee                                                   (202) 775-9555

NAPABA SUPPORTS GOVERNOR BREWER’S VETO OF HATEFUL ANTI-LGBT BILL

Remains Vigilant As Similar Bills Are Proposed In Other States

WASHINGTON — Last night, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed SB 1062, legislation that would have enabled businesses to disregard municipal ordinances under the banner of religious freedom, and allowed them to discriminate against individuals who identify as LGBT.

“Governor Brewer’s decision to veto SB 1062 is a victory for everyone who opposes discrimination and supports the civil rights of all Americans, including those of our LGBT brothers and sisters, but it is disheartening that hateful legislation like this ever reached her desk,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Religious claims have been asserted in the past to justify slavery, segregation, and bans on interracial marriage. On Tuesday, we sent the Governor and other Arizona leaders a letter outlining our opposition to this latest religious justification for discrimination. We let them know that if the Governor allowed SB 1062 to become law, NAPABA would consider relocating its Annual Convention in November out of Phoenix/Scottsdale.”

Were it not for Governor Brewer’s veto Wednesday evening, Arizona would have been the first state to enact legislation enabling corporations and individuals to deny services simply by asserting that they were acting because of a “sincerely held religious belief.” Supporters of the bill did not hide the fact that this bill targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. SB 1062 would have undercut the non-discrimination ordinances that include sexual orientation passed by several Arizona municipalities. Other states that are considering or have recently considered similar legislation include Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Missouri, Ohio, and Idaho.

“We won this round, but we must remain vigilant in Arizona and elsewhere because many states have contemplated or are contemplating bills similar in nature to SB 1062, and may do so again in the future,” said Arizona attorney George C. Chen, president-elect of NAPABA. “Religious freedom is important, but discrimination under the guise of religious freedom is not acceptable anywhere in our nation. At the same time, we need to support the work of many cities in Arizona (including Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff) that have passed non-discrimination ordinances regarding sexual orientation. Individuals, corporations, professional organizations, and many others in these communities strongly opposed SB 1062, and it was in large part due to their efforts that pressure was brought to bear on Governor Brewer.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 67 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, 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 color in the legal profession.

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PRESS RELEASE: NAPABA CONDEMNS ARIZONA LEGISLATION THAT BOLSTERS BUSINESSES’ ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBT PEOPLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          February 24, 2014 

Contact: Emily Chatterjee                                                   (202) 775-9555

NAPABA CONDEMNS ARIZONA LEGISLATION THAT BOLSTERS
BUSINESSES’ ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LGBT PEOPLE
Calls on Governor Jan Brewer to veto bill

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) strongly urges Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to veto legislation passed by the Arizona state legislature last Thursday that, under the guise of religious freedom, would enable discrimination against individuals who identify as LGBT.

“NAPABA has a long-standing commitment to supporting the civil rights of all members of our community, including our LGBT brothers and sisters,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of NAPABA. “While NAPABA respects the sincerely held religious beliefs of all people, religion has unfortunately been misused by some historically as an excuse to oppress people of color and people of other religions. For many it justified slavery, segregation, and the criminalizing of interracial marriages. The employment of a religious justification to now excuse the discrimination of LGBT people is just as reprehensible.”

If Governor Brewer does not veto Arizona House Bill 2153/Senate Bill 1062 by this coming Friday, Arizona will soon allow individuals and for-profit corporations to discriminate against anyone if they claim to be acting in the name of their religious convictions. This includes refusing services to members of the LGBT community and denying equal benefits to women in the workplace. On its face, it could be used as justification for discriminating against anyone, on any grounds, so long as a free religious exercise claim is asserted.

“As a long-time citizen of Arizona and as a former President of the Arizona Asian American Bar Association, I believe that this bill does not represent our state, and we categorically denounce this and all legislation targeting disenfranchised groups, including the LGBT and immigrant communities,” said George C. Chen, president-elect of NAPABA. “Religious freedom is an important part of our society, but this bill is about legalizing discrimination, not about religious freedom. Governor Brewer needs to veto this bill.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 67 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, 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 color in the legal profession.

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AALDEF Volunteer Trainings to Defend Asian American Voting Rights

Volunteer Trainings to Defend Asian American Voting Rights
Sign up by Oct. 23.

Trainings for AALDEF election monitoring are now on-line. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is seeking volunteer attorneys, law and undergraduate students, and community volunteers to assist in monitoring poll sites during the elections in NYC, NJ, and Virginia on November 5 to ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.  Attorneys and law students can receive pro bono hours or free CLE (including ethics) credits.

Volunteers will inspect poll sites for required language assistance, interview voters, and document instances of anti-Asian American voter discrimination.  Bilingual ability in an Asian language is helpful but not required.

Lunch/lite dinner will be provided.  All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time that they help.  Sign up by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, at  http://www.aaldef.net/volunteer_monitor_form.aspx

TRAINING DATES AND LOCATIONS

NEW YORK
Tues, Oct. 22 at 12N – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, at 53rd Street, NYC
Tues, Oct. 22 at 6PM – NYU Law School, Furman Hall Room 324, 245 Sullivan Street, NYC
Wed, Oct. 23 at 1PM – Brooklyn Law School, 205 Joralemon St., Room 505, Brooklyn, NYC
Mon, Oct. 28 at 12N – Columbia Law, 435 West 116th Street, Room 107, Manhattan, NYC
Tues, Oct. 29 at 12N –  Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, 51 West 52nd Street at 6th Avenue, NYC
Tues, Oct. 29 at 12:45pm –  New York Law School, Room TBD, 185 West Broadway, NYC
Wed, Oct. 30 at 6PM – Weil Gotshal & Manges,767 5th Ave at 59th Street, NYC

NEW JERSEY
Thurs, Oct. 24 at 12N – McCarter & English, 100 Mulberry St., 4 Gateway Center, Newark, NJ
Thurs, Oct. 24 time TBD – Rutgers Law School, Room TBD, Newark, NJ

WASHINGTON DC
Thurs, Oct. 24 at 6PM – Dickstein Shapiro, 1825 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fri., Oct. 25 at 12N  – Dickstein Shapiro, 1825 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Glenn D. Magpantay or Jerry Vattamala at [email protected],[email protected] or call 212-966-5932.

NATIONAL CO-SPONSORS: 
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

STATE/LOCAL CO-SPONSORS:
Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL)
Asian American Society of Central Virginia (AASOCVA)
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC)
Chhaya CDC
Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia (CAPAVA)
MinKwon Center
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)–DC and NY Chapters

LEGAL CO-SPONSORS: 
Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Greater DC (APABA-DC)
Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey (APALA/NJ)
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY)
Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY)
South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY)
South Asian Bar Association of Greater DC

 

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AALDEF seeks Pro Bono Volunteer Attorneys for Asian American Poll Monitoring for Primary Elections Sept 10th

To Download the volunteer form click here.

Pro Bono: Asian American Poll Monitoring

NYC Primary Election – September 10, 2013

Training on Monday, Sept. 9 at 12N at Fried Frank, 1 New York Plaza, New York, 10004

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is seeking pro bono volunteer attorneys to assist in monitoring poll sites during the NYC Primary Elections on September 10 to assess compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.

In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote.  For example, poll workers were hostile and made racist remarks, poll sites had too few interpreters to assist Asian American voters, translated voting materials were missing or hidden from voters, and ballots were mistranslated.

 Volunteers are needed to inspect poll sites for required language assistance, interview voters, and document instances of anti-Asian American voter discrimination.

There will be a ninety minute training session for all volunteers hosted by Fried Frank on Mon., Sept. 9 at 12N.  Lunch will be provided.  All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time that they help.  To sign up, complete the registration form.  Thank you! 

For more information, contact:

Glenn D. Magpantay or Jerry Vattamala at [email protected],[email protected] or call 212-966-5932.

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