Tag: NAPABA

Posted on

Press Release: NAPABA Applauds Ninth Circuit Decision Upholding Block on Revised Muslim Ban

For Immediate Release
June 12, 2017

Contact: Brett Schuster, Communications Manager, bschuster@napaba.org, 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit’s per curiam ruling
maintaining a lower court’s block on President Trump’s March 6, 2017,
revised executive order barring individuals from six Muslim-majority
countries and refugees from entering the United States.

In
March 2017, U.S. District Court Judge Derrick K. Watson of the District
of Hawaii issued a preliminary injunction on the travel restrictions in
this lawsuit, State of Hawaii v. Trump, which was brought by the state and individuals impacted by the executive order.

Today’s
unanimous Ninth Circuit opinion affirmed the plaintiffs’ right to
challenge the executive order and upheld their statutory claims under
the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The court agreed with the
plaintiffs’ assertion that the President’s broad authority on the entry
of foreign individuals has constraints, and that the executive order
exceeds the scope of the authority delegated to the President by
Congress under the INA, including the statute’s prohibition against
nationality-based discrimination.

On April 21, NAPABA filed an amicus brief
in support of the plaintiffs, supported by 43 NAPABA affiliates, after
joining this first challenge to the revised executive order with an
amicus brief filed in the district court. NAPABA’s briefs describe the
history of the statutory exclusion of Asians and Pacific Islanders under
early U.S. immigration law — including the first federal law to ban a
group of people from entering the country on the basis of race — prior
to the passage of the INA of 1965, which outlawed nationality-based
discrimination. NAPABA argued that President Trump’s revised order, with
its anti-Muslim underpinnings, violates this unambiguous prohibition on
discrimination established by Congress.

NAPABA
awaits the decision on the government’s petitions to the Supreme Court
in both this case and the parallel case from the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Fourth Circuit, International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump, and will continue to work to ensure the executive order is permanently struck down by the courts.

Read NAPABA’s amicus briefs in the Fourth and Ninth Circuits and before the district court here.

Read the March 6, 2017, statement of NAPABA and the South Asian Bar Association – North America, joined by 14 affiliates, against the revised executive order.

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 almost
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.

Posted on

Press Release: NAPABA Celebrates Confirmation of Judge Amul Thapar to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Press Release: NAPABA Celebrates Confirmation of Judge Amul Thapar to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

NAPABA Celebrates Confirmation of Judge Amul Thapar to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

For Immediate Release
May 25, 2017

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
bschuster@napaba.org, 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Amul R. Thapar as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Thapar is the first Asian Pacific American to serve on the Sixth Circuit and the second South Asian American federal appellate court judge in the history of the United States.

“We congratulate Judge Thapar on his historic confirmation,” said Cyndie M. Chang, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) president. “The confirmation of Judge Thapar gives testament to the strides made by the Asian Pacific American community in recent years. It is a fitting and momentous way to conclude and celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.”

With Judge Thapar’s confirmation, five Asian Pacific Americans sit as federal appellate court judges out of almost 175 nationwide.

Judge Thapar is a 2015 recipient of the NAPABA Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award and served as the keynote speaker at the 2007 NAPABA Convention. In 2007, NAPABA strongly supported President George W. Bush’s nomination of Judge Thapar to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, where upon confirmation, he became the first South Asian American Article III judge in the U.S.

Throughout Judge Thapar’s career, he has shown thoughtfulness, fairness, and understanding of his roles in public service. Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Thapar was the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and was an assistant U.S. attorney. He began his legal career in private practice following clerkships with Judge S. Arthur Speigel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and Judge Nathaniel R. Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He is a graduate of Boston College and the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.

NAPABA is proud to have supported Judge Thapar, including providing testimony in support of his nomination and meeting with Senators during NAPABA’s annual Lobby Day. We thank President Trump for nominating Judge Thapar, and NAPABA thanks Senators McConnell and Paul for recommending Judge Thapar to the White House.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or bschuster@napaba.org.

Posted on

PRESS RELEASE | NAPABA Applauds Fourth Circuit Decision Upholding Block on Revised Muslim Ban

PRESS RELEASE | NAPABA Applauds Fourth Circuit Decision Upholding Block on Revised Muslim Ban

NAPABA Applauds Fourth Circuit Decision Upholding Block on Revised Muslim Ban

For Immediate Release
May 25, 2017

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
bschuster@napaba.org, 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit’s 10-3 en banc ruling maintaining a lower court’s block on President Trump’s March 6, 2017, revised executive order barring individuals from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

In March 2017, U.S. District Court Judge Theodore D. Chuang of the District of Maryland issued a preliminary injunction on the travel restrictions in this lawsuit, International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump, which was brought by individuals — including U.S. citizens — and organizations impacted by the executive order. Today’s 10-3 Fourth Circuit opinion, written by Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory, affirmed the plaintiffs’ right to challenge the executive order and upheld their claims under the Establishment Clause.

On March 19, NAPABA filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs, supported by 43 NAPABA affiliates, describing the history of the statutory exclusion of Asians and Pacific Islanders under early U.S. immigration law — including the first federal law to ban a group of people from entering the country on the basis of race — prior to the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which outlawed nationality-based discrimination. NAPABA argued that President Trump’s revised order, with its anti-Muslim underpinnings, violates this unambiguous prohibition on discrimination established by Congress.

The court agreed with the plaintiffs’ assertion that religious animus motivated the revised order. The court found the government’s asserted national security interest to be a “secondary justification,” noting strongly that order “speaks with vague words of national security, but in context drips with religious intolerance.”

NAPABA awaits the pending ruling in the parallel Ninth Circuit case, State of Hawaii v. Trump, and will continue to work to ensure the executive order is permanently struck down by the courts.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at202-775-9555 or bschuster@napaba.org.

Posted on

NAPALSA Conference Call for Panelists, Nov. 2-5

NAPALSA Conference Call for Panelists, Nov. 2-5

The National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (NAPALSA) is currently seeking interested speakers for panels to be presented during the 2017 NAPALSA Conference taking place during the 2017 NAPABA Convention in Washington, D.C., from Nov. 2-5. If you are interested in serving on a NAPALSA panel, please complete an application form no later than 7 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 2.

Since 2002, the NAPALSA Conference has taken place in conjunction with the NAPABA Convention. Law students have the opportunity to organize their own panels catered to law students as well as participate in the general NAPABA programming. This partnership provides law students the chance to further hone their skills and learn and network with current attorneys from diverse sectors.

Posted on

American Bar Association Spirit of Excellence Award Nomination

Due Monday, May 22, 2017 | 5 p.m. EDT

Each year, the NAPABA Awards Committee reviews the pool of well-qualified NAPABA members and selects an individual to be nominated on behalf of NAPABA for the ABA Spirit of Excellence Award. Most recently, NAPABA nominated Hon. Jacqueline Nguyen and Peggy Nagae, both of whom were honored with this prestigious award in 2015 and 2017, respectively. The Awards Committee now seeks nominee recommendations for consideration of the 2018 award.

The Committee is looking for NAPABA members who have:

  1. achieved professional excellence in their fields;
  2. served as role models in overcoming hardships or barriers and achieved success and excellence in the legal profession;
  3. influenced racially and ethnically diverse individuals to pursue and/or to succeed in legal careers;
  4. opened doors, broken down barriers, or otherwise promoted the full and equal participation of racially and ethnically diverse individuals in the legal profession; and
  5. worked with or on behalf of racially and ethnically diverse lawyers from racial or ethnic groups other than their own.

Please e-mail nominee recommendations to NAPABA Membership Manager AuriaJoy Asaria at aasaria@napaba.org by5 p.m. EDT on May 22, 2017. You will be notified if the NAPABA Awards Committee selects your recommendation for nomination.

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 510 | Washington, D.C. 20006 | www.napaba.org

Posted on

At-Large Board Member Applications

Deadline | Aug. 4, 2017, at 8 p.m. EDT

Submit an Application

The NAPABA Elections and Nominating Committee is now accepting applications for At-Large Board Members.

  • Review the complete guidelines and apply here.
  • The deadline to submit an application is Aug. 4, 2017, at 8 p.m. EDT.

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 510 | Washington, D.C. 20006 | www.napaba.org

Posted on

2017 Call for Nominations

2017 Call for Nominations
NAPABA Board of Governors Officer Positions
Deadline | July 11, 2017, at 8 p.m. EDT

Submit a Nomination

The NAPABA Nominating and Elections Committee is accepting nominations for election to the officer positions of the NAPABA’s Board of Governors for the 2017-18 term. Please submit your nominations for the following positions:

  • President-Elect
  • Vice President for Finance and Development
  • Vice President for Membership
  • Vice President for Programs and Operations
  • Vice President for Communications
  • Treasurer
  • Secretary

Click here for more information or to submit a nomination. The submission deadline is July 11, 2017, at 8 p.m. EDT.

Posted on

Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy

Applications are now available for the fifth annual Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy (CBLA) in Minneapolis on June 25-27, 2017. The CBLA is a collaborative effort among the American Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, National Bar Association, National Native American Bar Association, and NAPABA. The CBLA will strengthen the pipeline of diverse bar association leaders through leadership training and professional development programs.

The CBLA is intended for up-and-coming bar leaders who have been in practice for 5-15 years and have served as officers of a NAPABA affiliate and/or chair/co-chair of a NAPABA committee.

Apply by Friday, May 12

  • Applications can be found here.
  • Deadline to submit an application is Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m. EDT.
  • Applicants will be asked to submit a brief essay of 250-500 words, a CV/resume, and two letters of recommendation.

More information about the program can be found on the CBLA website. Please contact CBLA Steering Committee member Gary Zhao with any questions at gzhao@salawus.com or at 312.894.3377.

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 510 | Washington, D.C. 20006 | www.napaba.org

Posted on

NAPABA Submits Testimony in Support of the Nomination of  Judge Amul Thapar for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

For Immediate Release
April 26, 2017

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
bschuster@napaba.org, 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — Today,
Judge Amul R. Thapar sat before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a
hearing on his nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Sixth Circuit.

“Today’s hearings demonstrate that Judge Amul Thapar is
a highly qualified nominee,” said Cyndie M. Chang, National Asian
Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) president. “He is an experienced and fair jurist who was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote to his current position on the bench. Judge Thapar is a trailblazer and role model for many in our community, as the first South Asian American to serve on the federal bench.”

“The
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association extends its strong
support for Judge Thapar’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Sixth Circuit. NAPABA urges the Senate to hold a prompt vote and
swiftly confirm Judge Thapar.”

Judge
Amul Thapar was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote to the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in 2007. NAPABA
supported his nomination to the bench at that time. He has a long record
of public service, including serving as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern
District of Kentucky. If confirmed, Judge Thapar would become the second
South Asian American to serve as a federal Article III appellate judge
and the fifth currently active Asian Pacific American federal Article
III appellate judge.

NAPABA
provided testimony in support of Judge Thapar, stating: “Judge Thapar
would make an immediate contribution as a federal circuit court judge.
His qualifications, integrity, intellect, and commitment to the justice
system are unquestionable. He brings dedicated talent and understanding
of the issues before the court, and a willingness to tackle complex
issues, that is inspiring… [T]he swift confirmation of Judge Thapar is
important to NAPABA and the Asian Pacific American community.”

Read NAPABA’s statement on the nomination of Judge Thapar here. Read NAPABA’s testimony here.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or bschuster@napaba.org.

The
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the
national association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, judges,
law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of
over 50,000 attorneys and over 75 national, state, and local 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 engages in
legislative and policy advocacy, promotes APA political leadership and
political appointments, and builds coalitions within the legal
profession and the community at large. NAPABA also serves as a resource
for government agencies, members of Congress, and public service
organizations about APAs in the legal profession, civil rights, and
diversity in the courts.

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).

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 510 | Washington, D.C. 20006 | www.napaba.org

Posted on

NAPABA Leads 43 APA Bar Associations in Ninth Circuit Amicus Brief to Continue Fight in First Legal Challenge to President’s Revised Muslim and Refugee Ban

News Release

For Immediate Release
April 21, 2017

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
bschuster@napaba.org, 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — The
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) led 43 of its
national associate and affiliate bar associations in filing an amicus brief
in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to support the
preliminary injunction of President Trump’s March 6, 2017, revised
executive order barring refugees and individuals from six
Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

The Trump Administration’s appeal in this case, State of Hawaii v. Trump, arises from the first legal challenge to the revised executive order, which was
brought on March 7, 2017, on behalf of the State and Ismail Elshikh,
Imam of the Muslim Association of Hawaii. NAPABA filed an amicus brief
on March 12 supporting the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order. On March 15,
Judge Derrick K. Watson of the U.S. District Court for the District of
Hawaii granted the temporary restraining order, which he converted into a
preliminary injunction on March 29
to extend the block on the travel and refugee restrictions. The U.S.
district court in Maryland has also enjoined the six-country visa ban,
and the Administration’s appeal in that case is pending in the Fourth
Circuit, where NAPABA filed an amicus brief on April 19.

“Having
challenged the revised executive order from this initial lawsuit,
NAPABA is proud of the growing momentum across our national network as
we continue our advocacy in the courts,” said NAPABA President Cyndie M.
Chang. “As leaders in the legal profession and as Asian Pacific
Americans whose communities have experienced the harms of exclusionary
laws, NAPABA has an imperative to stand against this unlawful
anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant order.” 

NAPABA’s
amicus brief describes decades of statutory exclusion of citizens of
Asian and Pacific Island countries under early U.S. immigration law,
including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 — the first federal law to
ban a group of people on the basis of their race. The Civil Rights Era
marked a dramatic turning point that saw Congress dismantle
nationality-based discrimination with the Immigration and Nationality
Act of 1965. The brief explains that presidential discretion in the area
of immigration and refugee admission, while broad, is limited by
statute. NAPABA argues that President Trump’s revised order, with its
anti-Muslim underpinnings, violates the unambiguous prohibition on
discrimination established by Congress.

NAPABA recognizes lead pro bono counsel, James W. Kim, a NAPABA member and partner at McDermott
Will & Emery LLP, in Washington, D.C., Mr. Kim’s team (including
Andrew Genz, Philip Levine, Joshua Rogaczewski, Matthew Girgenti, and
Michael Stanek), and NAPABA Amicus Committee co-chairs, Professor Radha
Pathak of Whittier Law School and Albert Giang, a partner at Boies,
Schiller & Flexner LLP in Los Angeles, for their leadership drafting
the brief, which also involved the efforts of NAPABA staffers.

The Ninth Circuit will hear the case on May 15, 2017, in Seattle.

NAPABA’s brief was endorsed by:

  • Arizona Asian American Bar Association              
  • Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area              
  • Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago              
  • Asian American Bar Association of New York              
  • Asian American Bar Association of Ohio              
  • Asian American Criminal Trial Lawyers Association              
  • Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts              
  • Asian Bar Association of Washington              
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Central Ohio              
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County              
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania              
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley              
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida              
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay              
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia              
  • Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey              
  • Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance              
  • Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento              
  • Austin Asian American Bar Association              
  • Chinese American Bar Association of Greater Chicago              
  • Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association              
  • Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago              
  • Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego              
  • Filipino Bar Association of Northern California              
  • Japanese American Bar Association              
  • Korean American Bar Association of Chicago              
  • Korean American Bar Association of Northern California              
  • Korean American Bar Association of Southern California              
  • Korean-American Bar Association for the Washington, DC Area              
  • Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York              
  • Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association              
  • Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association              
  • Missouri Asian American Bar Association              
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association – Hawaii Chapter   
  • National Filipino American Lawyers Association              
  • Orange County Asian American Bar Association              
  • South Asian Bar Association of Chicago              
  • South Asian Bar Association of Northern California              
  • South Asian Bar Association of Southern California              
  • South Asian Bar Association of Washington              
  • Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association              
  • Tennessee Asian Pacific American Bar Association              
  • Thai American Bar Association         
    —-

Read the amicus brief here.

Read NAPABA’s amicus brief in the district court in State of Hawai‘i v. Trump.

Read NAPABA’s amicus brief the parallel Fourth Circuit case, International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump.

Read the March 6, 2017, statement of NAPABA and the South Asian Bar Association – North America, joined by 14 affiliates, against the revised executive order.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or bschuster@napaba.org.

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 almost
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).

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 510 | Washington, D.C. 20006 | www.napaba.org

Proudly powered by WordPress