U.S. Court of Appeals Archives

July 12, 2024July 12, 2024

NAPABA Applauds the Nomination of Ryan Y. Park to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

For Immediate Release:Date: July 3, 2024

Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden nominated North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Y. Park to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. If confirmed, General Park would be the first Asian American to serve on the Fourth Circuit, which covers Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

“NAPABA applauds President Biden’s historic nomination of Solicitor General Ryan Y. Park,” said Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “A brilliant litigator, General Park has presented oral arguments in more than 25 cases and twice at the U.S. Supreme Court. A former law clerk of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice David H. Souter, General Park has over a decade of public service at the state and federal levels. We are pleased to support his nomination.”

Ryan Y. Park has been the Solicitor General of North Carolina since 2020 and previously served as Deputy Solicitor General of North Carolina from 2017 to 2020. From 2014 to 2017, he worked as an associate at Boies, Schiller, and Flexner LLP and in the Office of the Legal Advisor at the U.S. Department of State from 2012 to 2013. He served as a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice David H. Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court from 2013 to 2014, for Judge Robert A. Katzmann on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 2011 to 2012, and for Judge Jed S. Rakoff on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2010 to 2011. General Park received his J.D., summa cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2010 and his B.A., with distinction, from Amherst College in 2005.

“President Biden has nominated 41 AANHPIs to Article III courts, and 36 have been confirmed—more than any President in history,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “We thank President Biden for nominating General Park and ask the Senate to confirm him swiftly.”

April 8, 2024April 8, 2024

NAPABA Urges the U.S. Senate to Confirm Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

For Immediate Release:
Date: April 2, 2024

Contact: Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) joined 125 national, state, and local organizations from across the country to urge the United States Senate to confirm Adeel Mangi swiftly to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. In a letter spearheaded by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NAPABA and its partners highlighted Adeel Mangi’s exceptional qualifications and condemned “the baseless and bigoted attacks being waged against this exceptional and historic nominee.”

In November 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Mr. Mangi to the Third Circuit. If confirmed, Mangi would be the first Muslim American judge on any federal appellate court in the nation. As NAPABA noted when he was nominated, Mr. Mangi is a 2014 NAPABA Best Under 40 awardee and an active leader in the Asian American community. His long record of accomplishments, including his pro bono work supporting the Muslim American community, is groundbreaking.

“From the time that the President nominated Adeel Mangi nearly five months ago to today, nothing in Mr. Mangi’s tremendous record of achievements has changed,” said Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “Instead, since his nomination, Mr. Mangi has been the subject of baseless attacks that smack of Islamophobia. Our community is all too familiar with the rise of hate, and what Mr. Mangi has had to endure is unacceptable. We urge the U.S. Senate to confirm his nomination.”

“The baseless attacks against Mr. Mangi have a chilling effect,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “As we have raised in an op-ed and in a recent news article, Mr. Mangi’s treatment, if left unanswered, runs the risk of losing an entire generation of legal talent from entering public service and the opportunity to compose a federal bench that reflects the changing demographics of the United States. History will remember this moment. NAPABA stands behind Mr. Mangi’s nomination and looks forward to his confirmation.”

Adeel A. Mangi is a partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP. He began his legal career there as an associate in 2000, became counsel in 2009, and was elevated to partnership in 2010. Mr. Mangi received his LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2000. He qualified as a Barrister and received his Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Skills from the City University London Inns of Court School of Law in 1999 and his First Class Degree in Law from the University of Oxford, Pembroke College, in 1998.

We urge the U.S. Senate to move expeditiously on Mr. Mangi’s nomination and confirm him.

###

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 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 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.

March 13, 2023March 13, 2023

NAPABA Applauds the Confirmation of Arun Subramanian to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

For Immediate Release:
Date: March 10, 2023

Contact: Priya Purandare, Executive Director

WASHINGTON – March 10 – On Wednesday, Arun Subramanian was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Subramanian is the first South Asian American to serve on the Southern District of New York.

“NAPABA congratulates Arun Subramanian on his historic confirmation,” said Sandra Leung, president of NAPABA. “A child of immigrants, Mr. Subramanian is the first lawyer in his family, and this week, he became the first South Asian American judge to serve on the Southern District of New York. Like his family, we are proud to see him represent us.”

“The Southern District of New York is one of the most influential and active federal trial courts in the U.S.,” said Priya Purandare, executive director of NAPABA. “In addition to overseeing America’s largest financial institutions, it is also the location of one of the largest populations of AAPIs in the nation. We urge the Senate to continue confirming candidates that are representative of our nation.”

Subramanian was a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP where he chaired the firm’s pro bono practice and focused 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.

###
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.

August 8, 2022August 8, 2022

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.

###

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.

June 15, 2022June 15, 2022

NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Roopali H. Desai to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

For Immediate Release: June 15, 2022
Contact: Mary Tablante, Associate Strategic Communications & Marketing Director

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden nominated Roopali H. Desai to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. If confirmed, Desai would be the first South Asian American appellate judge on the Ninth Circuit.

“NAPABA congratulates Roopali H. Desai on her historic nomination to the Ninth Circuit,” said A.B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA. “Ms. Desai is a highly respected attorney, with nearly two decades of experience and a strong commitment to public interest. Her broad range of legal experience, representing both plaintiffs and defendants—including state agencies and municipalities, unions, corporations, elected officials, non-profit and public interest organizations, membership/professional organizations, individuals, and hospital and health care institutions, will be a welcome addition on the appellate court.”

Desai is a partner in the litigation group at Coopersmith Brockelman, PLC in Phoenix, AZ. She also serves as a professor of practice at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law. Earlier in her career, Desai clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for Chief Judge Mary M. Schroeder. She is endorsed by NAPABA’s affiliate the Arizona Asian American Bar Association. Desai received her Juris Doctor, Master of Public Health, and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona.

NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Roopali H. Desai and Senator Sinema and Senator Kelly for recommending and supporting her nomination.

###

April 18, 2022April 18, 2022

NAPABA Applauds the Nomination of John Z. Lee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

For Immediate Release:
Date: April 13, 2022

Contact: Mary Tablante, Associate Strategic Communications & Marketing Director

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden nominated Judge John Z. Lee to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. If confirmed, Judge Lee would be the first Asian American appellate judge on the Seventh Circuit.

“NAPABA congratulates Judge John Z. Lee on his historic nomination to the Seventh Circuit,” said A.B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA. “Judge Lee is a well-qualified nominee who has a decade of experience on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He will make an excellent contribution to the appellate court.”

Judge Lee is the son of a coal miner and a nurse, and immigrated to the United States when he was only five years old. Throughout his career, Judge Lee has been very active in serving the greater community, particularly in providing legal services to those in need. 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. Judge Lee is a former Board Member of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area, and he continues to be active with both AABA and NAPABA.

NAPABA thanks President Biden for nominating Judge Lee and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth for recommending and supporting his nomination.

###

February 22, 2022February 22, 2022

Apply for the Court’s Criminal Justice Act Panel by April 11, 2022

The Criminal Justice Act Committee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is accepting applications for service on the Court’s Criminal Justice Act Panel. CJA Panel Members represent indigent criminal defendants and petitioners for habeas corpus.

Admission to practice before this Court is a necessary qualification for membership on the Panel. The Court seeks attorneys of superior experience and proven competence in federal appellate criminal defense work. The qualifications of attorneys applying for service on the Panel will be examined by the CJA Committee’s Attorney Advisory Group, which will make recommendations for membership on the Panel. Membership on the Panel will be for a term of one to three years, at the discretion of the Court. Attorneys currently serving on the panel need not reapply until the expiration of their present term.

Application forms for membership on the Criminal Justice Act Panel are available at the Court’s website at www.ca2.uscourts.gov, or by calling 212-857-8702.

A signed original application, one copy of each of your appellate briefs, and three paper copies of the completed application and your resumé, along with a CD containing both your completed applications and resumé, must be received by the Clerk of Court by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 11, 2022. Please check the Court’s website (www.ca2.uscourts.gov) periodically for CJA .

For further information or questions, please contact [email protected].