Tag: NAPABA

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NAPABA Officer Elections Underway

NAPABA Officer Elections Underway

Elections are now underway for NAPABA 2014-15 Officers, and AABANY’s Board is pleased to announce that it endorses the following candidates in contested positions:

Andrew T. Hahn for President-Elect

Steven Y. Reeves for VP, Finance and Development

The candidates selected by the NAPABA Nominations and Elections Committee are:

President-Elect:

Andrew T. Hahn, Duane Morris LLP (New York, NY)

Jin Y. Hwang, Verizon Communications (Basking Ridge, NJ)

VP of Finance & Development:

Alex M. Lee, Solo Practitioner (Caldwell, NJ)

Steven Y. Reeves, Faegre Baker Daniels (Minneapolis, MN)

VP of Membership:

Brad Yamauchi, Minami Tamaki LLP (San Francisco, CA)

VP of Programs & Operations:

Lloyd S. Costales, Page, Lobo, Costales & Preston A.P.C. (Murrieta, CA)

VP of Communications:

Cyndie M. Chang, Duane Morris LLP (Los Angeles, CA)

Treasurer:

Pankit J. Doshi, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (San Francisco, CA)

Secretary:

Tacie H. Yoon, Crowell & Moring LLP (Washington, DC)

Voting Deadline: midnight PDT on Friday, September 12, 2014

All votes must be received before midnight PDT (i.e., by 11:59 pm PDT) on Friday, September 12, 2014. An electronic ballot will be sent to every member’s email address of record. The next edition of the NAPABA Lawyer Newsletter (also to be distributed later this month) will include a ballot for members who prefer to vote by paper ballot. Paper ballots representing an individual’s vote must show the name of the individual voting (either pre-printed, handwritten, or typed) and be postmarked or facsimile time-stamped no later than the deadline in order to be counted. 

Voter Eligibility

Only members in good standing as of August 1, 2014, are eligible to vote in NAPABA elections. Members must be admitted to the practice of law and (a) be in good standing with the bar of any state, territory, or province of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Canada, or (b) have heretofore met the requirements in category (a) and now be retired. Associate members – which includes law students, paralegals, and legal assistants – are not eligible to vote. 

For further information, including candidates’ statements, follow the link in the title.

AABANY encourages all eligible members to make their voices heard and to cast their votes. All AABANY members are members of NAPABA. If you are not sure of your membership status, please contact Membership Secretary Irene Tan at [email protected].

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NAPABA Lawyer – Submit Now

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The Spring issue of the NAPABA Lawyer is now available online. Read the newest and past issue here.

NAPABA is currently looking for substantive articles on the legal and/or APA communities for the Fall issue of the NAPABA Lawyer. Please contact NAPABA Communications Manager Azizah Ahmad if you are interested in submitting an article.

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2014 Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition

2014 Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition

The Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition is an appellate advocacy competition sponsored annually by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation (NAPABA Law Foundation), an IRC § 501©(3) non-profit, charitable and educational affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). The NAPABA Law Foundation works closely with the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (NAPALSA) and its local affiliates at law schools across the country. The purpose of this Competition is to develop advocacy skills without regard to the merit of the petitioner’s or respondent’s cases.  

The Competition was founded in 1993 and is named in honor of the late Honorable Thomas Tang, a respected jurist who was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1977. Judge Tang’s decisions during his more than eighteen years on the Ninth Circuit reflected his strong commitment to civil rights for all people. Judge Tang was known for his kindness and warmth, and the leadership role he played in the Asian Pacific American legal community. Prior to his passing in 1995, Judge Tang provided tremendous support to NAPABA and its activities, including the creation of this national moot court competition. 

The regional rounds of the Competition are conducted during October of each academic year throughout the country.  The winner of each regional round will automatically advance to the finals of the competition, to be held in conjunction with the annual NAPABA Convention in Scottsdale, AZ, between November 5-9, 2014.  The National Committee will also select additional high scoring teams from the regional rounds of the competition, to advance and compete during the finals of the competition.  The Committee will select a minimum of twelve (12) teams to a maximum of sixteen (16) teams to compete in the finals of the TTMCC. 

REGISTER & DOWNLOAD MATERIALS TODAY

Use the links below or follow the link in the title

The Official Rules

The Entry Form

The Regional Rounds

The Thomas Tang Moot Court Problem

For more information, contact Hemanth Digumarthi.

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NAPABA APPLAUDS NOMINATION OF AMIT MEHTA TO THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

1612 K Street NW, Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2014
Contact: Tina Matsuoka
(202) 775-9555

WASHINGTON – Today, President Obama nominated Amit Mehta to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. If confirmed, Mehta will be the first Asian Pacific American to serve as a federal district court judge in the District of Columbia.

“Amit Mehta has had a distinguished legal career and will serve admirably on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “I urge the Senate to ensure a speedy confirmation for Mr. Mehta.”

Mehta is currently a partner at the Washington, D.C. office of Zuckerman Spaeder LLP. He is an experienced trial, litigation, and investigations attorney focusing primarily on white-collar criminal defense, complex business disputes, and appellate advocacy. Before joining Zuckerman Spaeder, Mehta was a staff attorney for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Early in his legal career, Mehta was an associate at Latham & Watkins and clerked for the Honorable Susan Graber of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Portland, Oregon. Mehta served as Director for Facilitating Youth in Leadership and currently serves as Vice-Chair for the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project. The National Law Journal, Benchmark Litigation, and Superlawyers have all recognized Mehta for his legal excellence. Mehta graduated from Georgetown University magna cum laude and University of Virginia School of Law order of the coif.

NAPABA commends President Obama for nominating Amit Mehta to the bench and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia for her support of his nomination.

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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 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 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.

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NAPABA CELEBRATES CONFIRMATION OF NORMAN C. BAY TO THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        
July 15, 2014
Contact: Azizah Ahmad
(202) 775-9555                                                              

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Norman C. Bay to be Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by a vote of 52-45. He is the first Asian Pacific American to lead this powerful regulatory agency. Commissioner Bay is only the third Asian Pacific American to serve as head of a government department or agency during President Obama’s second term.

“Norman C. Bay is a dedicated public servant with the stellar credentials and professional background to be an outstanding leader of FERC. We are proud of Commissioner Bay, who is a longtime NAPABA member. We applaud him on his much deserved confirmation,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “NAPABA thanks President Obama for nominating Commissioner Bay to lead FERC, and appointing well-qualified, diverse candidates to the bench and to positions in his Administration. More qualified people of color like Commissioner Bay need to be given the opportunity to lead.”

Prior to his confirmation, Commissioner Bay served as Director of the Office of Enforcement at FERC, where he received the FERC Chairman’s Medal in 2013. Before joining FERC, he was a Professor of Law at the University of New Mexico from 2002 to 2009. His career in academia was preceded by time in public service — Mr. Bay served as the U.S. Attorney for the district of New Mexico, and spent many years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and also as an Attorney-Advisor at the U.S. Department of State. Commissioner Bay graduated from Dartmouth College summa cum laude and Harvard Law School cum laude. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Otto R. Skopil, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Portland, Oregon.

NAPABA thanks Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii for their strong support of Norman C. Bay’s nomination.

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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 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 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.

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Statement of NAPABA President Bill Simonitsch on the Voting Rights Amendment Act

Statement of NAPABA President Bill Simonitsch on the Voting Rights Amendment Act

From Azizah Ahmad, Senior Programs Associate at NAPABA: “Yesterday [June 24], the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Voting Rights Amendment Act (VRAA), which proposed a new coverage formula for the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder last year. The passage of the VRAA is a policy priority for NAPABA President Bill Simonitsch submitted a testimony for the record on behalf of NAPABA—click through to read the testimony.”

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NAPABA APPLAUDS APPOINTMENT OF SCOTT H. YUN TO THE U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WASHINGTON — On June 23, Scott H. Yun was sworn into office to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Judge Yun will be the 5th Asian Pacific American to ever be appointed as a bankruptcy judge in U.S. history.

“We congratulate Judge Scott H. Yun on his appointment to U.S. Bankruptcy Court,” said William J. Simonitsch, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Judge Yun is highly qualified, and was selected from a very competitive field. As just the fourth sitting Asian Pacific American bankruptcy judge, his appointment is significant for Asian Pacific American bankruptcy practitioners and the Asian Pacific American legal community as a whole.”

Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit appointed Judge Yun to the court on June 20, 2014. Judge Yun will take the place of Judge Deborah J. Saltzman in the bankruptcy court’s Riverside division.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Yun was a shareholder at the law firm of Stutman, Treister & Glatt. Judge Yun also clerked for bankruptcy Judge Ernst M. Robles of the Central District of California. Judge Yun holds a B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.