WASHINGTON – Friday [October 14], President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Alamdar S. Hamdani to serve as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas. If confirmed, Hamdani would be the first AAPI to serve as a U.S. attorney in the state of Texas.
“NAPABA applauds the Biden-Harris administration for nominating Alamdar Hamdani to serve as a U.S. attorney,” said A.B. Cruz, acting president of NAPABA. “Mr. Hamdani is a well-qualified candidate who has a long history in public service and strong ties to Houston and its legal communities.
“There is still a large gap for Asian Americans in the law, with only one Presidentially appointed U.S. attorney out of 94 judicial districts. The U.S. attorney is the chief federal law enforcement officer in their district, and the underrepresentation of AAPIs is concerning, especially as anti-Asian hate continues to deeply affect our community. NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Mr. Hamdani, and Senator Cornyn and Senator Cruz for recommending and supporting his nomination. We also encourage Senators to consider recommending qualified AAPI candidates to serve as U.S. attorneys.”
Since 2014, Alamdar Hamdani has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Prior to his tenure in the Southern District of Texas, he served as deputy chief of the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division at the Department of Justice, and as a trial attorney in the same section. Hamdani has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and was a founding partner of Hamdani & Simon, LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and the University of Texas at Austin.
“Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the United States and Texas, with nearly one in five new Texans identifying as Asian American,” said Priya Purandare, executive director of NAPABA. “In the Houston area within the Southern District of Texas, the Asian American population grew by 53 percent in the last decade, and they comprise nearly nine percent of the population. Mr. Hamdani’s nomination is a step in the right direction in ensuring our community is represented. We urge the Senate to quickly confirm him.”
NAPABA Commends Justice Goodwin H. Liu as Recipient ABA Spirit of Excellence Award
WASHINGTON — Oct. 5, 2022. This week, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession announced California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin H. Liu as a recipient of its 2023 Spirit of Excellence Award. Each year, the ABA honors lawyers who have excelled in their fields and who have demonstrated an abiding commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession with this prestigious distinction.
An accomplished jurist, scholar, and professor, Justice Liu is a nationally recognized expert on constitutional law, education law and policy, implicit bias, and criminal justice reform. A graduate of Stanford, Oxford, and Yale Law School, and a former Rhodes Scholar, Justice Liu’s distinguished career includes serving as a former Supreme Court clerk, a key policy advisor at two federal agencies, and as a tenured professor and Associate Dean at the UC Berkeley School of Law. In 2011, Justice Liu was nominated and confirmed as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court.
Justice Liu is a towering figure in the Asian American legal community, and in particular for his groundbreaking work on the Portrait Project, a comprehensive, multi-year, data-driven study of Asian Americans in the law, conducted in partnership with NAPABA, which was a game-changer for raising awareness about the successes, challenges, and obstacles confronting Asian Americans in the legal profession.
“Justice Goodwin Liu has opened doors, broken down barriers, and been an unflinching champion of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, not just for Asian Americans, but lawyers of all backgrounds,” said Acting NAPABA President A.B. Cruz III. “NAPABA is proud of its longstanding partnership with Justice Liu on the Portrait Project, and it was a privilege to nominate him for the ABA’s Spirit of Excellence Award. He is an inspiration for our members and beyond, as a role model for overcoming adversity in the pursuit of excellence in the legal profession.”
In 2017, Justice Liu was the recipient of the NAPABA President’s Award, given to NAPABA members who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to NAPABA, the legal community, and the greater Asian Pacific American community.
Also receiving the 2023 Spirit of Excellence Award are:
- Hon. Roger L. Gregory, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Reginald M. Turner, Immediate Past President of the ABA
- Diandra Benally, General Counsel of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
The 2023 Spirit of Excellence Awards will be presented during a ceremony on February 4 at the ABA Midyear Meeting in New Orleans.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.
NAPABA Announces that the 2022 Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition is Seeking Judges and Bailiffs
It is time for the 2022 Tang Moot Court Competition! Organizers are seeking judges for the upcoming moot court regional competition rounds. Moot court judges must be law school graduates and not affiliated with any student teams competing this year.
Thank you in advance for supporting the law students and providing them with valuable oral argument training. Please see judging opportunities below and sign up at the link provided.
For questions, please email [email protected].
Regional Competitions via Zoom
The regional competitions will be held online via Zoom on Friday September 30th, Friday October 7th, and Saturday October 8th. Sign-ups for the Zoom oral arguments are below (please note the applicable time zones for each round):
Friday October 7th and Saturday October 8th, Regionals 2-3 | SIGN UP
We are also seeking bailiffs (law students may volunteer as bailiffs) — please contact [email protected] if you are interested in serving as a bailiff.
NAPABA Launches New Anti-Bullying Resources for Lawyers & Families
| COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the mental health concerns of children and the epidemic of bullying impacting K-12 students across the country. As attorneys, NAPABA members are often asked to serve as a resource for those in need. ANTI-BULLYING RESOURCE GUIDE For lawyers, we have created a guide on responding to acts of bullying and harassment in K-12 schools. This guide and accompanying CLE webinar will provide you with model responses and a guide to working with impacted families. We thank our partners at the American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution Foundation (AAA/ICDR Foundation) for their support of this project. We thank the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania, the Asian American Psychological Association, Act to Change, and the Sikh Coalition for offering their resources and guidance. Download the Guide here. IN-LANGUAGE ANTI-BULLYING POSTERS For students and families, we have created a multilingual poster on how to recognize and navigate the impacts of bullying. You can share this resource in your local community, with impacted families and students, and clients. This project was created in partnership with the Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum (APIAHF). Download the Toolkit here. |
NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Judge John Z. Lee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
WASHINGTON – Today, [Sept. 7], the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge John Z. Lee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Judge Lee is the first Asian American appellate judge to serve on the Seventh Circuit. “NAPABA congratulates Judge Lee on his historic confirmation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit,” said A. B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA. “Judge Lee is an experienced jurist with a decade of experience as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Moreover, Judge Lee’s story, the son of a coal miner and a nurse who immigrated to the United States when he was only five years old, resonates with many in our community.” Judge Lee is an active member in the AAPI legal community, serving as a former Board Member of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area (AABA Chicago) and continues to be active with both AABA Chicago and NAPABA. He was the President of the Board of Directors for the Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS), a co-founder of the Willow Creek Legal Aid Clinic in Hoffman Estates (a joint program between CARPLS and Willow Creek Church), and the President of the Board of Directors of Asian Human Services. In addition to his service as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois since 2012, Judge Lee worked in private practice and as a trial attorney in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College. NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Judge Lee and Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth for recommending and supporting his nomination.. |
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| The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession. |
NAPABA Applauds the Nomination of Arun Subramanian to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
WASHINGTON – Today, [Sept. 2], President Joe Biden nominated Arun Subramanian to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. If confirmed, Subramanian would be the first South Asian American judge on the Southern District of New York. “NAPABA congratulates Arun Subramanian on his nomination,” said A.B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA. “Mr. Subramanian is an experienced trial and appellate attorney with a strong track record of pro bono service. A child of immigrants, he became the first lawyer in his family, and we are proud to see him represent our community. We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm him.” Subramanian is a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP where he chairs the firm’s pro bono practice and focuses on consumer protection, antitrust, commercial class actions, and contract and tort litigation. In 2021, Subramanian was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve on the Advisory Committee for the Federal Rules of Evidence. Subramanian clerked on the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for Judge Dennis Jacobs, and on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for Judge Gerald E. Lynch. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Case Western Reserve University. NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Arun Subramanian and Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for recommending and supporting his nomination. |
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| The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession. |
Important Deadlines Coming Up for the 2022 NAPABA Convention
The Countdown is On!
3 Months Until the 2022 NAPABA Convention! #NAPABA22
Are you ready to join us this November in Las Vegas for the largest annual gathering of Asian American and Pacific Islander legal professionals? This unforgettable event is the opportunity to discover meaningful insights, grow your network, and bolster your legal knowledge alongside diverse thought leaders.
Early Bird Prices End in Two Weeks
Register for the NAPABA Convention by August 23 at 11:59 pm ET for the lowest rate possible and save up to $150 off the cost of the advance registration rate.
To put you in control of your Convention experience, the Plenary Luncheons and the Gala Dinner are available for purchase a la carte–add these ticketed events to your registration cart for an additional fee.
Registration and housing are now connected: unique booking links to NAPABA’s available room blocks are provided in your confirmation email AFTER you register for the Convention.
Convention Scholarship Applications Due Tuesday
The NAPABA Convention offers one of the best values among legal education conferences. To further support our membership, scholarships are available to defray registration, airfare, lodging, and/or ground transportation expenses. Members are urged to apply for scholarships by August 9 at 8 pm ET. Law student scholarships are also available and applications are due September 30.
- Apply here for the Convention Scholarship | Applications due by August 9, at 8 pm ET.
- Apply here for the Law Student Scholarship | Applications due by September 30 at 8 pm ET.
Learn more about the scholarships and eligibility requirements here.
Have questions or need more information about the Convention and why you should attend? Visit our website or email us.
NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Judge Roopali H. Desai to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
For Immediate Release:
Date: August 5, 2022
Contact: Priya Purandare, Executive Director
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Roopali H. Desai to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Confirmed in record time, Judge Desai is the first South Asian American judge to serve on the Ninth Circuit.
“NAPABA congratulates Judge Desai on her confirmation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit,” said A. B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA.” Judge Desai is a trusted legal expert with a broad coalition of bipartisan support. Her experience, legal acumen and background brings much needed representation and legal diversity to the Ninth Circuit.”
Previously Judge Desai served as partner at Coppersmith Brockelman. She served as a law clerk for The Honorable Mary Schroeder, Chief Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and is a graduate of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and the University of Arizona.
NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Judge Desai and Senator Sinema and Senator Kelly for recommending and supporting her nomination.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.
NAPABA Commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the Oak Creek Gurdwara Shooting
For Immediate Release:
Date: August 5, 2022
Priya Purandare, Executive Director
WASHINGTON – Today marks the 10th anniversary of the mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis., which resulted in the death of seven worshipers: Paramjit Kaur Saini, Sita Singh, Ranjit Singh, Prakash Singh, Suveg Singh Khattra, Satwant Singh Kaleka, and Baba Punjab Singh. NAPABA, alongside the Oak Creek Sikh American community and Sikh communities across the nation, remembers and honors the lives lost and forever altered. We grieve with their families and stand with our community deeply impacted by this act of hatred.
“Every individual in our country has the right to live and thrive in a nation that feels safe and inclusive,” said NAPABA Executive Director Priya Purandare. “This year’s Oak Creek commemoration is centered around the message ‘Heal, Unite, Act’ — Together, we will continue to heal from the loss of loved ones, unite to confront hate-motivated violence, and further our long-standing commitment to act towards building a safe, diverse, and inclusive America.”
The 10-Year Remembrance Vigil at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin will be livestreamed on YouTube on Friday, August 5, 2022, at 6 p.m. CDT. For more information regarding Oak Creek remembrance events, please visit oakcreek10.squarespace.com.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.
NAPABA Files Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Affirmative Action Case
For Immediate Release:
Date: August 3, 2022
Contact: Priya Purandare, Executive Director
WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) filed an amicus brief in the cases challenging affirmative action before the Supreme Court, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. We were joined on the brief by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.
In the brief, the bars reiterated their support for the principles laid out in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), which allowed the consideration of race as a factor in college admissions as part of a holistic admissions process. The brief lays out the importance of diversity in the legal profession and the impact overturning holistic admissions in college on current efforts to diversify the legal pipeline. The brief did not address the second question posed by the Court about the practices and policies implemented by either Harvard or the University of North Carolina.
NAPABA has consistently supported the principle of holistic admissions since it first submitted an amicus brief in Grutter with a coalition of Asian Pacific American organizations. NAPABA was joined by other diverse bars reiterating their support for affirmative action and the impact on the legal profession in both Fisher v. Texas (2013) and Fisher v. Texas (2016). This principle was codified and most recently affirmed by the NAPABA Board of Governors as the organization’s standing policy in 2015.
NAPABA thanks Dan Bromberg, Appellate Practice leader, and Shelby Dyl of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, for serving as pro bono counsel on this brief. We thank Albert Giang of King & Spalding LLP and Radha Pathak of Stris & Maher LLP, for their leadership as Co-Chairs of NAPABA’s Amicus Committee and contributions to the brief. A special thanks to Kevin Fong, former NAPABA Amicus Chair, for his advice and contributions.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network, 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 all backgrounds in the legal profession.