Press Release: NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Florence Y. Pan to U.S. District Court — D.C.

For Immediate Release
April 28, 2016

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

WASHINGTON — Today, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Judge Florence Y. Pan to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. If confirmed, Judge Pan will be the first Asian Pacific American woman to serve as a federal district court judge in the District of Columbia.

“We applaud the nomination of Judge Pan to serve in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,” said Jin Y. Hwang, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Judge Pan has demonstrated her ability as a fair and adept jurist in her seven years on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and we strongly encourage the Senate to confirm her to the federal bench.”

In 2009, Judge Pan was nominated by President Obama to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and was confirmed by unanimous consent by the Senate. She was the first judicial nominee to be confirmed under the Obama Administration.

Previously, she served for 10 years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including two years as the deputy chief of the appellate division. She also held positions in Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice, notably in the Office of the Solicitor General. Judge Pan taught at Georgetown University Law Center and American University, Washington College of Law, and is active in her community having served as the Secretary of NAPABA’s Judicial Council. She formerly served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ralph K. Winter, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Honorable Michael B. Mukasey of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Judge Pan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Law School.

NAPABA commends President Obama for nominating Judge Florence Y. Pan to the federal bench and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia for her support of the nomination.

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

NAPABA Regional Conferences: Call for Programs

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Call for Programs

Submit a program proposal for one of NAPABA’s upcoming Regional Conferences to be held in New York, Ohio, and Virginia.

Click here for more information on NAPABA’s Regional Conferences.

Northeast Regional | Aug. 19 – 20

Central Regional | Sept. 22 – 23

Southeast Regional | Sept. 30 – Oct. 1

KALAGNY – 2016 NAPABA Northeast Regional Conference

KALAGNY – 2016 NAPABA Northeast Regional Conference

Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy — Application Now Available!

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June 26-28, 2016 – Seattle, Washington

NAPABA is currently seeking applicants for the fourth annual Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy (CBLA) in Seattle, Washington, from June 26-28, 2016 (Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning).

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 co-chair of a NAPABA committee. It is a collaborative effort among the American Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, National Bar Association, National Native American Bar Association, and NAPABA. Beginning this year, the National LGBT Bar Association has joined as a collaborative partner. The purpose of CBLA is to strengthen the pipeline of diverse bar association leaders through leadership training and professional development programs. This is an excellent opportunity to foster collaborative relationships across national bar associations at the local or regional level, share best practices, and develop potential business opportunities and friendships.

If you have attended a previous CBLA, please consider joining us at CBLA this year for robust alumni programming.

Application Deadline | Friday, May 13

  • Applications can be found HERE.
  • Deadline to submit an application is Friday, May 13 by 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, at least one of which should be from a NAPABA member.

More information about the program can be found on the CBLA website. Please contact CBLA Steering Committee member Daniel Sakaguchi with any questions at dsakaguchi@ArmstrongTeasdale or at 314-342-4178.

NAPABA Supports the Reintroduction of the Reuniting Families Act

For Immediate Release
March 17, 2016

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

The
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the
reintroduction of the Reuniting Families Act by Representative Michael
Honda (D-CA). The bill attempts to alleviate visa backlogs, promote
expedited family reunification, and provide relief to the families of
Filipino American World War II veterans. The bill also brings much
needed updates to the family-based immigration system which has kept
many families apart for years, including disrupting the lives of many
Asian Pacific American families. It is a compelling reminder that the
United States should always uphold the core national values of family
and fairness in our immigration system.

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

2016 NAPABA Convention Call for Programs – Deadline April 15 at 5 p.m. EDT

2015 NAPABA Convention
Call for Programs – Deadline April 15 at 5 p.m. EDT

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is now accepting program proposals for the 2016 NAPABA Convention, which will be held in San Diego, California, from Nov. 3-6. We welcome program submissions on topics that celebrate the diversity of NAPABA and will provide practical solutions and advice for our attendee’s future development and advancement.

Deadline:
Monday, April 15 at 5 p.m. EDT

Submission Information:
Less than one month to the deadline — submit a proposal for the International Law Symposium, Solo/Small Firm Boot Camp, or general NAPABA CLE programming!

1. Visit the Call for Programs webpage.

2. Click submit at the bottom of the page and create a username and password to view the submission guidelines. 

3. NAPABA recommends a program endorsement or co-endorsement by a NAPABA Committee or Network. Contact a NAPABA Committee or Network chair by April 8 (suggested deadline) to have your program endorsed. Please note that you are not required to seek an endorsement.

NAPABA Lobby Day 2016

NAPABA Lobby Day 2016
Washington, D.C. | May 23-24, 2016

Join us for NAPABA Lobby Day 2016, which will be held in Washington, D.C., from May 23-24, 2016. This event is an opportunity for NAPABA members from across the country to educate members of Congress and congressional staffers on issues of importance to the Asian Pacific American community. Lobby Day also gives members an active role in promoting NAPABA’s mission of advocating for justice, equity, and opportunity for Asian Pacific Americans.

Participants will meet with legislators and voice their perspectives on a range of topics. As a participant, you will be given all the information and materials you need to meet with legislators on Capitol Hill. Registration for Lobby Day includes a webinar training session and on-site training so that all participants are prepared for meetings with congressional members and staffers.

Registration for Lobby Day  

  • Stipend Applications | March 21, 2016
    • Stipends are available for NAPABA direct members traveling to Lobby Day from out-of-town.
      • A stipend application is included in the Lobby Day Registration page.
  • Register for all events and apply for a stipend online on the NAPABA website.

Hotel | Book by April 22, 2016, for a discounted rate

  • NAPABA has secured a room block through Hyatt Place Washington, D.C./U.S. Capitol. 
    • Rate: $189 single/double plus applicable taxes & fees.
      • Once the NAPABA block is filled additional rooms will be available at a rate of $239/night.
  • Book your hotel by April 22 here.

All application and registration materials can be found here.

National Diverse Bar Associations Urge Senate to Hold Hearing and Vote on Supreme Court Nominee

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2016

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


Download: Press Release
Download: Letter to Senators Grassley and Leahy

WASHINGTON — Today, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the National Bar Association (NBA), the National LGBT Bar Association (National LGBT Bar), and the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) — representatives of diverse bar associations — submitted a joint letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) strongly urging the Senate to uphold its Constitutional duty by holding a fair hearing and timely vote on any Supreme Court nominee.

With a long history of supporting judicial nominees from both Democratic and Republican presidents, these five non-partisan organizations represent the interests of almost 200,000 lawyers, judges, and legal professionals of diverse backgrounds across the country.

As stated in the letter: “Delay in the Supreme Court’s ability to fulfill its duties caused by intentionally leaving the Court incomplete will have a direct impact on the legal rights of Americans, individuals and businesses of all backgrounds, across the country, and further erode public confidence in our legal system and in the functioning of our democracy.”

As professional legal membership organizations and representatives of diverse American attorneys, the five representative bar associations have consistently maintained that it is both the President’s and the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to ensure that our courts are fully functioning by nominating and fairly considering nominees as described in Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution.

“With so much at stake, this is not the time to allow our highest court in the land to operate without a full bench,” said HNBA National President Robert T. Maldonado. “As our Constitution outlines, the President should nominate a candidate and the Senate carries the responsibility to vet and confirm. To not fill that seat would be a denial of justice. Let’s give the American people what they want: a fully-functioning judicial branch that gives everyone fair and equal protection under the law.”

“It is imperative that the Senate fulfill their constitutional obligations by giving the President’s nominee fair consideration and a timely vote,” said Jin Y. Hwang, NAPABA president. “By depriving this nation of a fully functioning Supreme Court, the Senate is not only ignoring their constitutional duty, but taking historically unprecedented action. The Senate must do the job they were elected to do and not hamper the effectiveness of the judiciary.”

“When the American People reelected President Obama in 2012 they placed trust in him perform the job of President of the United States. One function of the job includes nominating individuals to fill vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court. Senate Republicans are correct when they say that the American People should have a voice in the matter, but what they are forgetting is that the American People spoke twice, in 2008 and 2012 when they voted for President Obama. Senate Republicans not only must allow the President of the United States to do his job, but they also must perform their duties under the U.S. Constitution. It is unacceptable that Senate leaders have hindered the functionality of the Federal Court system by obstructing the nominations process,” added NBA President Benjamin L. Crump.

“Regardless of which political party currently holds power in either the Presidency or the Senate, both have a constitutional duty to ensure that the Supreme Court vacancy is filled in a timely manner,” said Eduardo Juarez, president of the National LGBT Bar Association. “We urge all parties involved to fill the vacancy to ensure a properly functioning judiciary. For the Senate to abdicate its constitutional duty to advise and consent is not only wrong, but it is unprecedented.”

“The desire for an accessible, fair judiciary is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Linda Benally, NNABA president. “Indeed principal criticisms of the King of England in the Declaration of Independence were that he ‘obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers;’ that he ‘made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and the Amount and Payment of their Salaries.’ The people decided, in the Constitution, the process for ensuring that such tyranny would never again burden the United States, conferring upon the President the obligation to nominate Justices to serve on the Supreme Court and obligating the Senate to counsel the President on such nominees. This is not a partisan issue; it is an issue of each duly-elected public official honoring the public’s trust and fulfilling his or her obligations to the people of the United States as set forth in the Constitution.”


The HNBA is an incorporated, not-for-profit, national membership organization that represents the interests of the more than 50,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students in the United States and its territories. From the days of its founding three decades ago, the HNBA has acted as a force for positive change within the legal profession. It does so by encouraging Latino students to choose a career in the law and by prompting their advancement within the profession once they graduate and start practicing. Through a combination of issue advocacy, programmatic activities, networking events and educational conferences, the HNBA has helped generations of lawyers succeed.

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.

Founded in 1925, the NBA is the nation’s oldest and largest national network of minority attorneys and judges. It represents approximately 60,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students and has over 80 affiliate chapters throughout the United States and around the world. The organization seeks to advance the science of jurisprudence, preserve the independence of the judiciary and to uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession. For additional information about the National Bar Association, visit www.nationalbar.org.

The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal organizations. The LGBT Bar promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity.

Founded in 1973, the NNABA serves as the national association for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NNABA strives for justice and effective legal representation for all American indigenous peoples; fosters the development of Native American lawyers and judges; and addresses social, cultural and legal issues affecting American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

Asian Pacific Americans are Ready for the Supreme Court

Asian Pacific Americans are Ready for the Supreme Court

Press Release: NAPABA Extends Condolences on the Passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Scalia

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For Immediate Release
Feb. 14, 2016

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

NAPABA Extends Condolences on the Passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) extends its sincere condolences to the family of United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who unexpectedly passed away Saturday morning in Texas. Justice Scalia, who served on the Supreme Court for 30 years, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

“Justice Scalia’s contribution to the United States and legal jurisprudence was immense,” said NAPABA President Jin Y. Hwang. “I had the opportunity to observe Supreme Court oral arguments as a law student and meet with Justice Scalia afterwards, and his intelligence, marked wit, and strong devotion to originalism left an indelible impression on me.  He freely spoke his mind on the bench, and he will be remembered for his nearly 30 years of dedicated public service on the Supreme Court.”

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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 nearly 50,000 attorneys and over 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).