On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Judiciary Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) welcomed over 90 guests to its Annual Judges’ Reception at The Nexus Club located at 100 Church Street, New York, NY 10007.
The event brought together members of the judiciary, attorneys, government officials, law students, and community leaders to celebrate judges who were appointed, elected, or elevated within the past year.
Organized by AABANY’s Judiciary Committee, co-chaired by Mark Son and David Mou, the evening highlighted AABANY’s continued commitment to diversity, mentorship, and advancement within the legal profession and in the judiciary.
The program began with opening remarks from Judiciary Committee Co-Chair Mark Son, followed by remarks from distinguished leaders representing the bench, government, and the bar.
Featured speakers included AABANY President Varuna Bhattacharyya and Hon. Frances Wang, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court. Justice Wang, who is also Vice President of the Asian American Judges Association of New York, spoke about the importance of building a judiciary that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves and emphasized the impact of representation on public confidence in the legal system.
Additional remarks were delivered by Ali Najmi, Chair of New York City’s Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, and Kenan Kurt, Assistant Counsel for Judiciary and Ethics for the New York State Governor’s Office. Mr. Najmi underscored the Mayor’s commitment to create a more a diverse judiciary and stated that he is ready to work hard. Mr. Kurt compared the pioneer judges to the first athlete who broke the four-minute mile, shattering barriers and inspiring others to follow. Just as that achievement opened the door for future runners to accomplish the same feat, we celebrate the judges whose leadership and perseverance are making “four-minute miles” possible for those who come after them.
Hon. Karen Lin, Associate Justice of the Appellate Term for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, reflected on the progress Asian Americans have made within the legal community while encouraging continued mentorship and support for future generations seeking judicial office.
The evening also featured a Presentation of Awards by event co-chairs Lisa Lin and Kwok Ng, along with citations presented by Mr. Kurt on behalf of the Governor’s Office. Honorees recognized during the reception included:
- Hon. Margaret Chan
- Hon. Janice Chen
- Hon. Eve Cho Guillergan
- Hon. Sheridan Chu
- Hon. Indira Khan
- Hon. Jay Kim
- Hon. Judy Kim
- Hon. Karen Lin
- Hon. Nabeela McLeod
- Hon. Juliette-Noor Haji
- Hon. Oma Phillips Deonarine
- Hon. Soma Syed
- Hon. Kris Singh
- Hon. Frances Wang
Following the formal program, guests gathered for a dinner reception that provided an opportunity for judges, attorneys, students, and community leaders to connect and celebrate the honorees.
The Annual Judges’ Reception remains one of AABANY’s signature events and reflects the organization’s longstanding dedication to judicial diversity, professional mentorship, public service, and the advancement of Asian American attorneys and judges throughout New York.
A special acknowledgement to the organizers of this year’s program: Mark Son, David Mou, Douglas Tang, Kwok Ng, Pei Pei Cheng De Castro, Yang Chen, Carrey Wong, Apollo Baltazar, and Lisa Lin.
For more photographs, go here.
–Written by Lisa Lin