For immediate release: September 23, 2011
Contact: Christina Yang, (213) 229-5149, contactapaba@gmail.com


Los Angeles, CA - The Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Los Angeles County congratulates Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen on her historic nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Yesterday, President Barack Obama nominated Judge Nguyen for a seat on the Ninth Circuit, making her the first Vietnamese American and the first Asian Pacific American woman to be nominated for a federal appellate judge position.

"Judge Nguyen's nomination to the Ninth Circuit is very significant to us," said Flora Yin, APABA president. "She was a founding member of APABA and served as our second president. Her commitment to access, inclusion, and diversity, however, goes beyond APABA. She has been a member of many minority bars, including the Women Lawyer Association of Los Angeles, the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Orange County, the Korean American Bar Association, the Japanese American Bar Association, and the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association."

Judge Nguyen has served as a United States District Judge in the Central District of California in Los Angeles since 2009. Before her current appointment, she served as a California Superior Court judge. Her life and accomplishments are distinctly American and emblematic of an immigrant family's contributions to American society. Born in Dalat, South Vietnam, Judge Nguyen fled with her family to the United States in 1975, settling in California. Her parents had to work several jobs simultaneously to support their children. Often, Judge Nguyen worked alongside them as a child. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, she graduated from Occidental College in 1987 and UCLA School of Law in 1991. She began her career as an associate at Musick, Peeler & Garrett in Los Angeles before joining the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office.

"APABA is thrilled that the President has nominated Judge Nguyen to the Ninth Circuit. She has served the community for years, both on the bench and off. She will truly contribute a valuable viewpoint to the federal appellate court because of her distinctive background and experiences. We look forward to a speedy confirmation by the Senate," stated Christina Yang, APABA board member.

APABA applauds President Barack Obama for nominating Judge Nguyen to the Ninth Circuit.


The Asian Pacific American Bar Association was established in 1998 to establish a broad base of membership that is reflective of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Asian/Pacific Islander American community in the greater Los Angeles area.