Tag: judiciary

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Call for Senate Hearing on Hate Crimes

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: [email protected]
Website: www.sikhcoalition.org
Donate: www.sikhdonate.org

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AABANY STATEMENT REGARDING MEDIA COVERAGE OF RECENT STOP & FRISK DECISIONS

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) joins the New York County Lawyer’s Association in their support of New York’s judiciary, judicial independence, and against the improper personal attacks leveled by the New York Post and the Daily News against judges for their decisions in recent stop and frisk cases.

In recent weeks, judges who have ruled on stop and frisk cases have been derided, vilified, and subjected to improper personal accusations. In the face of the judiciary’s attempt to meet its constitutional responsibilities, the New York Post and Daily News have described the decisions as “judicially mandated lawlessness,” accused the judges of bias against the NYPD, called certain judges “insane,” and engaged in fear-mongering tactics such as asserting a descent into “anarchy.” In particular, Justices Peter Tom, Nelson Roman, and Karla Moskowitz, as a result of their Appellate Division decision in the Matter of Darryl C., have been the subject of repeated, unfair, and jarring personal attacks. One Daily News, July 4, 2012 editorial headline went as far as calling the decisions a “death sentence for N.Y.” Furthermore, a July 16, 2012 Daily News editorial suggests that a dissenting opinion, written by Justice Peter Tom, in a stop and frisk judicial decision, urged individuals to “punch a cop, win case.” This is simply a misrepresentation of the opinion cited by the editorial and omits many important facets to the logic and reasoning behind the dissenting opinion. While the issue is hotly contested and reasonable minds will differ with the judicial decisions rendered in the area, these inflammatory attacks are unfair, baseless, and threaten judicial independence.

An independent, well-functioning judicial system, accessible to all, is a bedrock principle of our democracy. Personal attacks against judges, distortions of the facts and context of judicial decisions, and sensationalistic journalism designed to inflame the public threaten judicial independence and the credibility of our democracy. Judges make difficult decisions everyday and while public criticism of the judiciary is an integral part of our democratic society, attacks of this nature threaten the integrity of the
judicial system and our government as a whole.

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole. AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). To learn more about AABANY, visit www.aabany.org.

© 2012 Asian American Bar Association of New York. All rights reserved.

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AABANY APPLAUDS THE APPOINTMENT OF LILLIAN WAN TO SERVE AS A JUDGE IN THE NEW YORK CITY FAMILY COURT

NEW YORK – July 11, 2012 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) applauds the appointment of Lillian Wan as a New York City Civil Court judge, with an assignment to the Family Court.  Judge Wan was approved by the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, the New York City Bar’s Judiciary Committee and the Mayor’s office.  “AABANY is delighted that Lillian Wan has been appointed a Civil Court judge.  Her assignment to serve in the Family Court is well-deserved recognition of her experience and demonstrated commitment to the children and families of New York State,” said Jean Lee, President of AABANY.

Asian Pacific Americans remain significantly under-represented in the New York State Judiciary, where there are only currently twenty-three (23) Asian Pacific American judges out of about 1,200 judges across the state.  Although, according to the 2010 Census, approximately 8.3% of the population of New York State and approximately 14.0% of the population in New York City consist of Asian Pacific Americans, Judge Wan will be one of four Asian Pacific American judges serving in Family Court in the entire state of New York.  Even with the addition of Judge Wan to the bench, less than 2% of the New York judiciary are Asian Pacific Americans.  

“With her appointment, Judge Wan will be the only Asian Pacific American female jurist serving in  New York City Family Court,” said James P. Chou, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Judiciary Committee.  “We applaud Mayor Bloomberg for his continued commitment to diversifying the judiciary in our City.”

Prior to taking the bench, Judge Wan served as a Court Attorney-Referee at the Kings County Surrogate’s Court where she handled adoptions, guardianships, wills, trusts, and estates matters. Before joining Surrogate’s Court, Judge Wan was an attorney for the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in the Manhattan Family Court Unit for nine years, where she litigated and supervised hundreds of child abuse and neglect proceedings.  Judge Wan is the in-coming chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Family Court and Family Law Committee.  She is also a member of AABANY, where she is the co-chair of the Government and Public Sector Committee.  Judge Wan was recently elected to the board of directors for the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association.  Judge Wan is also a member of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA) and Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program, Inc. (PALS).  Judge Wan graduated summa cum laude from Binghamton University in 1997 and then attended Albany Law School where she served on the Albany Law Review as an Associate Editor and graduated magna cum laude in 2000.

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The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community.  Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole.  AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).  To learn more about AABANY, visit www.aabany.org. 

© 2012 Asian American Bar Association of New York. All rights reserved. Logo is a registered trademark of the Asian American Bar Association of New York.

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Commission Currently Soliciting Candidates for Upcoming Vacancy on the Court of Appeals

Commission Currently Soliciting Candidates for Upcoming Vacancy on the Court of Appeals

The Commission on Judicial Nominations is currently soliciting candidates for the upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals that will occur as of January 1, 2013, upon the retirement of Senior Associate Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick.  To obtain an application, please follow this link, where you can download a PDF after entering your name and email address.  Applications are due to the Commission no later than August 1, 2012.

Candidates for the upcoming vacancy may download an application from the Commission’s website, www.nysegov.com/cjn. The deadline to submit applications is August 1, 2012. In addition to this vacancy, there will be a number of scheduled vacancies arising at the Court of Appeals over the next several years. Applicants will also have the option to request that their applications be considered by the Commission for such future, scheduled vacancies. Persons interested in learning more about the Commission on Judicial Nomination are encouraged to visit the Commission’s website: www.nysegov.com/cjn
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NAPABA Press Release: Jacqueline Nguyen and John Lee Confirmed

NAPABA Press Release: Jacqueline Nguyen and John Lee Confirmed

On May 7, NAPABA and AAJC jointly issued the following press release:

Jacqueline Nguyen Confirmed as First-Ever Asian Pacific American Female Federal Appellate Court Judge; John Z. Lee Also Confirmed For Federal District Court in Illinois

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen to be a Circuit Court Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and also confirmed John Z. Lee to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Nguyen is the first-ever Asian Pacific American female to serve as a federal appellate court judge anywhere in the nation. Judge Lee is only the second Asian Pacific American to serve as an Article III judge in Illinois.

For the full text of the press release, click on the title of this entry.

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President Barack Obama Nominates Lorna G. Schofield to Serve as a U.S. District Judge on the SDNY Bench

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) welcomes and applauds the news that President Barack Obama has nominated Lorna G. Schofield to serve as a federal district court judge in the Southern District of New York. “AABANY is delighted to learn that President Obama has nominated Lorna Schofield to serve on the Southern District of New York bench” said Jean Lee, President of AABANY. “If confirmed, Ms. Schofield would be the first Filipino-American to serve as an Article III federal judge in the history of this country, which would be a legacy of both the Second Circuit and New York State.”   Click here to read the full press release.

Lorna Schofield

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Miranda Du Confirmed as Federal District Court Judge for Nevada

On Wednesday March 28, NAPABA and The Asian American Justice Center reported:

Today, the Senate voted to confirm Miranda Mai Du to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Judge Du is the first-ever Asian Pacific American to serve as an Article III judge in Nevada.

“We congratulate Judge Du on her confirmation, and thank Senator Reid for both suggesting her name to President Obama and scheduling her confirmation vote,” said Nimesh M. Patel, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Judge Du is a nominee with a wealth of experiences and qualifications. She also has an inspiring life story, and will add much needed diversity of perspective on the federal court in Nevada.”

Read the full press release here.

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Senate Leaders Agree to Move Forward on the Confirmation of Three Asian Pacific American Judicial Nominees

Senate Leaders Agree to Move Forward on the Confirmation of Three Asian Pacific American Judicial Nominees

On March 15 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reached an agreement to allow votes on all three Asian Pacific American nominees pending on the Senate floor. The Asian Pacific American nominees include Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen, nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Miranda Du, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, and John Z. Lee, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Nguyen, Ms. Du, and Mr. Lee have all been nominated to fill vacancies that are classified as “judicial emergencies.” Eleven other judicial nominees were also included in the Senate deal, and it is expected that all 14 judicial nominees will receive a floor vote by May 7th.

Read the full press release here.

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NYLJ: Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary

NYLJ: Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary

Theo Cheng, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Judiciary Committee, shares this link from the December 12 New York Law Journal which describes the work of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee in helping to screen highly qualified candidates for New York’s family, criminal and civil courts.  This article should be of interest to anyone seeking to learn more about New York’s judicial system and the role of the Mayor and his committee in selecting candidates to the bench.

Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary