Tag: Fisher v. University of Texas

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Press Release: NAPABA and Partners Applaud Ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and its partner organizations applaud the Supreme Court’s ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, which reaffirms the principle that diversity in higher education is a compelling interest. In light of this decision, colleges and universities may continue to develop effective admissions policies that include race as a factor as part of a holistic review to create diversity and opportunity in the applicant pool.

“Today the Supreme Court affirmed the important role race-conscious admissions policies have in ensuring diversity in our nation’s colleges and universities,” said NAPABA President Jin Y. Hwang. “As lawyers of color, we see the beneficial impacts of these policies every day in the legal workforce and we recognize that diversity in higher education is critical to ensuring we have a pipeline of talented lawyers and judges able to serve their communities. We are encouraged that the Court continued to recognize these benefits for our country and allow colleges and universities to continue to ensure diversity and inclusion on campuses.”

The Coalition of Bar Associations of Color (CBAC) — NAPABA, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the National Bar Association (NBA), and the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) — issued a joint statement supporting the ruling, which can be read here.

CBAC member bar associations jointly filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in Fisher that recognized the importance of race-conscious admissions policies to communities of color and the important role they play in ensuring diversity in the legal profession. The brief is available here.

NAPABA joined national Asian Pacific American community organizations — Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) — to support the University’s holistic review process. The organizations issued a joint statement applauding the result and can be read here.

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Press Release: NAPABA Statement on Today’s Arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas

For Immediate Release
Dec. 9 , 2015

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

Today,
the Supreme Court heard arguments in Fisher v. University of
Texas-Austin, a challenge to the University’s race-conscious admissions
policy. As the arguments demonstrated, the Court should continue to
uphold the long-standing precedent that diversity is a compelling
interest in college admission policies, and uphold the University of
Texas-Austin’s admissions plan.

The
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), along with
its fellow members of the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color, filed
an amicus brief demonstrating the importance of building a diverse
pipeline of students who will enter the legal profession. As future
leaders and custodians of the legal system, it is important that
students have wide-ranging experiences, engage with diverse populations,
and be representative of varied backgrounds. As current events
demonstrate, it is equally imperative that today’s students develop
empathy, understanding, and acceptance — traits which will become
essential throughout their lives and careers.

Diversity
and inclusion benefit all communities. Asian Pacific Americans, like
other groups, have endured discrimination and a lack of opportunities
that continue to impact us today. NAPABA urges the Court to recognize
that race-conscious admissions policies ultimately benefit the American
community as a whole.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].

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
approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and
local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo
practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services
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.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

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PRESS RELEASE: National Coalition of Bar Associations of Color Urge Supreme Court to Support Diversity in Admission Programs

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For Immediate Release
Nov. 4, 2015

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster: 202-775-9555; [email protected]

National Coalition of Bar Associations of Color Urge Supreme Court to Support Diversity in Admission Programs

File Joint Brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Fisher v. University of Texas

WASHINGTON — The Coalition of Bar Associations of Color (CBAC)–the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the National Bar Association (NBA) and the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) filed a joint amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. The Court will review the standard used by University of Texas at Austin in developing their race-conscious admissions policy following a 2013 decision by the Court which affirmed the principle that diversity in higher education is a compelling national interest. With oral arguments scheduled for Dec. 9, the four organizations recognized the significance of all four communities of color standing together in support of race-conscious admission policies in order to promote diversity in the legal profession. The brief discusses the unique perspectives of the communities each bar association represents, and highlights the importance of ensuring access to institutions of higher education, in order to preserve a diverse pipeline for our multicultural society and ultimately advance CBAC’s shared commitment to diversity in the legal profession. The brief can be found here: http://bit.ly/fisher2cbac

“The National Bar Association proudly stands with our CBAC partners to once again argue that now is not the time to turn back the clock on our efforts for diversity in the U.S.,” NBA President Benjamin L. Crump said. “We have taken significant strides forward but we know that there is much work to be done in order to achieve a diverse and inclusive society. The Court, as before, should uphold the admirable and critical efforts institutions of higher education in their continuing mission to reflect society and its diversity. The court should not jeopardize the progress made and sought by law schools and the legal community to simply reflect the rich diversity that makes this nation great.”

“The Hispanic National Bar Association is proud to join our partner bar associations of color to reaffirm the decades of Supreme Court precedent deeming collegiate diversity a compelling national interest,” said HNBA President Robert T. Maldonado. “Despite efforts that have been made to improve equal access and opportunity in colleges and law schools of our nation, the simple fact is that we still do not have a level playing field, and there is much left for us to do. College admissions programs that take race into account, among a number of other factors, fit the parameters the Court has laid out in previous decisions, and work to create a diverse and inclusive student body that is beneficial to everyone. It is essential for college campuses to reflect the diversity of our nation to prepare our students for success in the real world.”

“The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association supports efforts to overcome barriers to equal opportunity. We are proud to join our colleagues in the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color encouraging the Court to recognize the benefits students receive when immersed in diverse environments, and to uphold the University of Texas’s attempt to create opportunities for diverse populations,” said NAPABA President George C. Chen. “We recognize that Asian Pacific Americans, like other groups, have endured cases of discrimination and lack of opportunities which continue to impact us today. The low numbers of minority groups in the legal profession, government, and corporate leadership underscore the need to remove barriers to higher education and increase diversity. Courtrooms, law firms, and law schools must be filled with people of different backgrounds so that we can better understand and respect the diversity of the American public.”

“The National Native American Bar Association joins our CBAC partners in expressing the importance of creating a pipeline for students of color in higher education,” shared NNABA President Linda Benally. “The Supreme Court has previously affirmed the compelling interest of colleges in encouraging diversity in the student body, which should not be removed. Race-conscious admissions programs, like the one designed by the University of Texas, open doors for students of color by ensuring a richer and intellectually diverse classroom experience for all students.”