U.S. District Court Judge Lorna G. Schofield, New York City
In a four-minute, first-person video, U.S. District Court Judge Lorna G. Schofield, New York City, tells her story of growing up the daughter of a Filipina war bride living in the Midwest. She worked hard to meet the high standards of excellence set by her mother. As a child, she had to adapt to long stays with other families when her mother was frequently hospitalized for treatment of a chronic illness.  As a teen, she shouldered adult responsibilities.  Judge Schofield’s message to young people: “You have to have faith in yourself that you can make a life that you want.”

Judge Schofield’s video is part of a series called Pathways to the Bench, produced by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.  In the videos, judges talk about the personal, character-building challenges in their lives that prepared them to serve on the bench.  Each judge has a motivational message for young people that adults find inspiring, as well. 

Judge Schofield made history as the first Filipina American Article III judge in the United States.

The Pathways to the Bench series also created a video about the Hon. Denny Chin, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which is available from our blog here.

Thanks to Rebecca Fanning, National Outreach Manager for the Federal Courts, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, for sharing this video with us.

The Hon. Denny Chin of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (and past president of AABANY) shared this video with us, the latest in the series “Pathways to the Bench” produced by the United States Courts. It traces his humble beginnings from Hong Kong to Hell’s Kitchen and ultimately to the Federal bench. Take a look. Feel free to share any comments here.