PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: May 7, 2012                        Contact: Bryant Yang at bryant.yang@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA – The Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Los Angeles (www.apaba.org) celebrates Jacqueline H. Nguyen’s historic confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Today, the United States Senate confirmed U.S. District Court Judge Nguyen to the Court of Appeals.  Judge Nguyen is the first Asian Pacific American woman and first Vietnamese American to be confirmed as a federal appellate judge.

“APABA is thrilled with the confirmation of Judge Nguyen, particularly because she was one of our founding members, was our second president, and to this day continues to be an active member of the community,” stated Edmond Sung, APABA president.  “She is a fantastic addition to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.   Her judicial temperament and character are well recognized in the legal community, and she is unquestionably qualified to serve as an appellate judge because of her experience as a trial attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and her long service as a state and federal trial court judge.“  Judge Nguyen graduated from Occidental College and UCLA School of Law.  She worked as an associate at Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP in Los Angeles before joining the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  She served as a federal prosecutor for seven years until 2002, when she was appointed to the California Superior Court.  President Barack Obama nominated Judge Nguyen to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in 2009.

“Throughout her career, Judge Nguyen has shattered one glass ceiling after another.  Her historic confirmation as the first Asian Pacific American woman federal appellate judge symbolizesundefinedespecially for young Asian American womenundefinedthat with enough determination and hard work you can achieve anything,” stated Christina Yang, co-chair of APABA’s Public Appointments and Judicial Endorsements committee.  “Her background and career have inspired, and will continue to inspire, all of our members.”  Judge Nguyen was born in Dalat, South Vietnam.  Her family fled to the United States in 1975 after the fall of Saigon.  They resided in a refugee camp in Camp Pendleton until they eventually settled in the La Crescenta area of Los Angeles.  Judge Nguyen has described those early years as invaluable life lessons that have shaped her into the person she is today.

APABA applauds Senator Dianne Feinstein for recommending Judge Nguyen, President Barack Obama for nominating her, and Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell for scheduling the confirmation vote.