Tag: edny

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At the 2013 NAPABA Northeast Regional/AABANY Fall Conference hosted by Weil Gotshal, a plenary session was held during the luncheon to explore the recent United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.

The luncheon was sponsored by Kobre & Kim. Welcome remarks were given by Mike Huang, President of AABANY, Fred Green, Management Committee Member, Mergers & Acquisitions Partner and Sponsor to the Asian Attorney Affinity Group at Weil, and Wendy Shiba, President of NAPABA. Board member and past AABANY President Robert Leung presented brief remarks about AABANY’s newest committee, the Career Placement Committee, and invited broad participation in it.

The Program Chair for the plenary session was Sarah Seo, Co-Chair of the Academic Committee. She introduced the Hon. Pamela K. Chen, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, moderator of the panel.

Panelists included Khin Mai Aung, Director of the Educational Equity Program at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), who submitted an amicus brief in the Fisher case, and Hemmie Chang, Partner at Foley Hoag, who led her firm’s efforts in supporting AALDEF’s amicus filing in Fisher. Also on the panel were Michael Park, Partner at Dechert, and William Consovoy, Partner at Wiley Rein, who submitted briefs on Fisher’s side of the case before the Supreme Court.

The room was filled to capacity and many of the attendees had to go to the overflow room next door to watch the panel discussion on video.

The panel took several thoughtful and pointed questions from the audience during the Q&A portion.

Thanks to our Key Sponsor Hudson Court Reporting and Video for taking video and transcription of the plenary session.

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EDNY, SDNY Seek Comment on Local Rules Amendments

EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS ADOPT REVISIONS TO LOCAL RULES, INVITE PUBLIC COMMENT

The United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York have adopted amendments to Local Civil Rules 5.2, 6.1, 7.1, and 37.2. The revisions are available at https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/ or www.nysd.uscourts.gov. Prior to the revised rules taking effect, the public is invited to comment. Comments are to be submitted in writing on or at the close of business on Friday, June 28, 2013 to either:

Edward A. Friedland
District Court Executive
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street, Room 820
New York, NY 10007-1312

or

Douglas C. Palmer
Clerk of Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
225 Cadman Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11201

The revisions will become effective upon approval by the Second Circuit Judicial Council.

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EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS ADOPT REVISIONS TO JOINT LOCAL CIVIL RULE 54.1, REQUEST COMMENT BY APRIL 5

The United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York have adopted revisions to Local Civil Rule 54.1. The revisions are available at https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/ or www.nysd.uscourts.gov; they are also attached to this e-mail.

Prior to the revised rules taking effect, the public is invited to comment. Comments are to be submitted in writing on or at the close of business on Friday, April 5, 2013 to either:

Edward A. Friedland
District Court Executive
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street, Room 820
New York, NY 10007-1312

or

Douglas C. Palmer
Clerk of Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
225 Cadman Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11201

The revisions will become effective upon approval by the Second Circuit Judicial Council. 

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NAPABA and AAJC Applaud Confirmation of Pamela K.M. Chen to the Eastern District of New York

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 4, 2013

NAPABA Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202) 775-9555 
AAJC Contact: Kimberly Goulart (202) 499-7027

NAPABA and AAJC Applaud Confirmation of 
Pamela K.M. Chen to the Eastern District of New York

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate confirmed Pamela K.M. Chen by a voice vote to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She becomes the first openly gay Asian Pacific American to serve on the federal judiciary.

“NAPABA congratulates Pam Chen on her historic nomination and confirmation and is proud to have supported her in the nomination and confirmation process along with the LGBT community,” said Wendy Shiba, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “We applaud President Obama and Senator Schumer for their continued commitment to diversifying the federal judiciary.”

For almost 14 years, Judge Chen has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where she has served as chief of the Civil Rights Section for more than eight years, and previously as a deputy chief of the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division. She also served as a deputy commissioner for enforcement at the New York State Division of Human Rights, as a trial attorney in the Justice Department in Washington D.C., and in private practice. Judge Chen has won numerous awards for her work, particularly in addressing human trafficking.

“Judge Chen’s confirmation is a step in the right direction,” said Mee Moua, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. “There are more than 40 federal District Court judges in New York City. Judge Chen will become the third Asian Pacific American, bringing APA representation on the bench more in line with our 14 percent share of the city’s population.”

Judge Chen’s confirmation increases the number of active Asian Pacific American Article III judges to 18 nationwide: two federal Appellate Court judges and 16 federal District Court judges. President Obama nominated a record 17 Asian Pacific American to the Article III courts. Three more Asian Pacific American Article III nominees are pending in the Senate: Sri Srinivasan, nominee for the U.S. Circuit Court for the D.C. Circuit; Raymond T. Chen, nominee for the U.S. Circuit Court for the Federal Circuit; and Derrick Kahala Watson, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. NAPABA and AAJC urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm these individuals, who are highly qualified for the federal bench.

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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 62 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent 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 federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.

The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org), a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice (www.advancingjustice.org), works closely with the other Advancing Justice members – the Asian American Institute in Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco (www.asianlawcaucus.org) and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles (www.apalc.org) – to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities.

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From SDNY/EDNY: Changes to Rules Effective Feb. 25

EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS ADOPT REVISIONS TO JOINT LOCAL CIVIL RULE AND LOCAL ADMIRALTY RULES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 25

The United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York have adopted revisions to Joint Local Civil Rule 1.5 and Local Admiralty Rules B.2 and C.1. The revised rules go into effect on Monday, February 25 and can be found online at http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/courtrules.php.
       

The courts adopted new subsection (h) of Local Civil Rule 1.5 to impose an obligation upon an attorney who has been disbarred, suspended, or censured by one court to notify other courts. The courts amended Local Admiralty Rule B.2 to clarify the plaintiff’s notice obligation following an attachment. The courts also amended Local Admiralty Rule C.1 to specify that the Rule applies to a summons issued pursuant to Rule C(3)©.

Click Here to see the revisions.

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ACCORD Statement on EDNY Proposed Maps

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 6, 2012

 

For more information, contact:

James Hong

718.460.5600

[email protected]

STATEMENT ON FEDERAL COURT’S PROPOSED MAPS

BY THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY COALITION ON REDISTRICTING
AND DEMOCRACY (ACCORD)

Earlier than expected, the magistrate tasked by the “Special Master” panel of federal judges to redraw Congressional lines released a proposal this morning.  U.S. Congress is the highest level of government that is affected by redistricting.  These lines will be adopted unless the majorities of the Senate and Assembly can come to an agreement and pass their own version of the Congressional maps that Cuomo will sign. 

While there are some exceptions, for most Asian American communities of interest in New York City, the proposal is positive.  In fact, there seems to be a strong acknowledgement of the Unity Map drawn by civil rights groups, including the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), and supported by ACCORD.  ACCORD finds that this proposal, on the whole, is a clear improvement from the current Congressional lines – especially in Queens, where voter dilution in Northeast Queens has hampered the ability of our communities to have a voice in Congressional elections.

ACCORD has the following specific comments on significant areas for the Asian American community:

QUEENS:

·         The proposed Congressional District (CD) 6, if adopted, would be a Congressional district with the highest concentration of Asian Americans ever created.  At nearly 40% of the district (37.9%), the Asian American community of Northeast Queens would have major influence in a Congressional seat.

·         This district is nearly identical to District 5 recommended in the Unity Map, drafted by AALDEF and endorsed by ACCORD (see http://aaldef.org/unity-map.html)

·         The significant voter dilution of Asian American voters in Northeast Queens between the current CD 5 and CD 9 (Flushing, Bayside, Auburndale, Queensboro Hills, Fresh Meadows and Oakland Gardens) is corrected by this proposal.

·         This proposed district also keeps together the neighborhoods of Woodside and Jackson Heights in CD 14.

·         This proposal could be improved if Bellerose could be connected with Queens.

MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN (including Manhattan’s Chinatown and Sunset Park):

·         ACCORD is pleased that CD 7 recognizes (as does the current CD 12) there is a community of common interest between Sunset Park and Manhattan’s Chinatown, and keeps these together in one district.

·         This district is very similar to the proposed District 12 in the Unity Map.

 

The Asian American Community Coalition On Redistricting and Democracy (ACCORD) is a non-partisan coalition of organizations and individuals committed to advancing the opportunities of Asian Pacific American and minority communities to meaningfully participate in the political process.  ACCORD recognizes that redistricting plays a pivotal and fundamental role in these opportunities, and supports redistricting plans that keep together communities of interest that exist in and around ethnic neighborhoods across New York.

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Vincent Chang at NYCLA Public Hearing on Impact of Budget Cuts on Judiciary

Vincent Chang sat on a New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) panel at a public hearing on Friday, December 2 that addressed the impact of present and future budget cuts on the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Chief Judge Loretta Preska of the SDNY and Chief Judge Carol Amon of the EDNY testified at the hearing, which discussed, among other things, the effect that budget cuts would have on public safety, including courthouse security, as well as pretrial and probation supervisory services. The hearing also addressed issues relating to cutbacks in services provided to lawyers and to the public, such as cuts in clerk’s office support staff, docketing, interpreters, court reporting, audio visual, IT, and other areas, which could result in increased delays and other challenges to the administration of justice.