News

APABA, JABA, KABA, and SCCLA (the “Sponsoring Bar Associations”) are pleased to offer a limited number of travel scholarships to law student members to attend the 2012 NAPABA Convention in Washington, DC.

Applicants must be current law students and members of one or more of the Sponsoring Bar Associations as of the application deadline, which is 8 pm Pacific Time on Monday, October 22, 2012. Applicants must also request funding from their law schools. Please see the scholarship application for additional details and requirements. 

Email completed applications with resumes and/or questions to: Edward Lew, 2012 Scholarship Committee Chair, at edlew.apaba@gmail.com.

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: June 8, 2012
Contact: Bryant Yang at bryant.yang@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA – The Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Los Angeles County (www.apaba.org) applauds Halim Dhanidina’s historic appointment to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Governor Edmund G. Brown appointed Dhanidina to the state bench on May 18, 2012, making him the first Muslim American judge ever appointed in the state of California.

“Governor Brown could not have made a better appointment,” exclaimed Edmond Sung, APABA president. “Halim Dhanidina has been a tireless leader within the Asian Pacific American community for many years. He has served APABA as a Board member, co-Chair of the Public and Judicial Appointments Committee, co-Chair of the Community Service Committee, and Historian. We are going to miss his presence on the Board of Governors tremendously.” Dhanidina also served as Director for the South Asian Bar Association and regularly conducted training for the South Asian Network on domestic violence, sex crimes, and child abduction.

Dhanidina is unquestionably qualified for the state judiciary. He graduated from Pomona College and the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law. He has extensive trial experience as a Deputy District Attorney for over 14 years, trying 68 jury trials including 24 murders and seven capital cases. Because of his great reputation in the District Attorney’s Office and the defense bar, he was elevated to the Hardcore Gang Division and the Major Crimes Division. He also taught as an adjunct professor in the paralegal program at West Los Angeles College and the Glendale University College of Law, and is currently part of the adjunct faculty at Whittier Law School. Dhanidina is the recipient of countless awards: Award for Senior Service from Pomona College, Recognition for Victims’ Rights Advocacy by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Honoree for Successful Murder Prosecutions by Justice for Homicide Victims, and Award for Commitment to Community Service by the South Asian Network.

“Besides being a wonderful person with sharp intellect and impeccable temperament, APABA proudly supported Dhanidina because he exhibits a profound understanding, as a talented prosecutor, that crime cannot simply be punished,” stated Tim Laske, co-Chair of the Public and Judicial Appointments Committee. “Dhanidina has engaged APABA with numerous organizations that promote preventive measures to keep our community safe. “ Through his efforts, APABA partnered with SHADES (Stopping Hate & Delinquency by Empowering Students) and APABA’s members were able to serve as mentors and case proctors for teenage jurors in an innovative “Teen Court” program, which provides an alternative to traditional school discipline. Dhanidina similarly organized a gang intervention workshop for at-risk youth at the Asian Youth Center in the City of San Gabriel.

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.

APABA is working with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) to conduct a poll monitoring program for the June 5 primary and November 6 general elections. APALC will recruit and train volunteers who will be sent to poll sites across Los Angeles County with high numbers of Asian American voters to make sure that voters are being treated fairly and have access to language assistance, which the county is required to provide. The volunteer monitors go inside poll sites and observe whether translated materials and bilingual poll workers are available, and if problems occur, interact with poll workers to rectify them. APABA encourages members to participate in this program. Los Angeles County is implementing several new language requirements, including assistance to Cambodian, Indian and Thai American voters.

APALC will conduct a training session on Thursday, May 24 for individuals who wish to volunteer as poll monitors. Click here for more information.

APABA is pleased to announce that it will be awarding a public interest fellowship in the amount $5,000 to a law student during the summer of 2012. Please visit our Law Students/Fellowship Committee page to apply or learn more about the fellowship. Applications are to be postmarked no later than April 20, 2012.

For immediate release: December 28, 2011
Contact: Christina Yang at (213) 229-5149 or christina.t.yang@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA – The Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Los Angeles County (www.apaba.org) applauds the appointment of APABA Advisory Board member Holly J. Fujie to the Los Angeles Superior Court. APABA graciously thanks Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. for the appointment. “APABA is proud to have endorsed Holly, and to have pushed for such an eminently qualified applicant for appointment to the state judiciary,” stated Edmond Sung, president of APABA. For the last twelve years, she has been a shareholder at Buchalter, Nemer, APC. She is an expert in insurance and surety industry related litigation, and has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2004-2011, one of the “Top 100 Lawyers” by the Los Angeles Daily Journal, and one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers in Southern California.” In 2009, Ms. Fujie was elected to membership in the prestigious American Law Institute. She graduated, at the age of 22, from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall) School of Law. “Holly Fujie truly personifies the best of our profession. She has a fierce commitment to increasing access to legal services for the underserved, an unwavering dedication to diversity, and an immense passion for justice and equality,” stated Christina Yang, co-Chair of the Public Appointments and Judicial Endorsements Committee. In her various leadership positions, such as President of the State Bar of California, Board member of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, President of the Chancery Club, and Chair of the Board at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Ms. Fujie has tirelessly sought to better our profession. For her efforts, she has been bestowed the “Trailblazer” Award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the “Distinguished Advocate for Diversity” Award from the Philippine American Bar Association, the Public Service Award of the Japanese American Bar Association, and the "Breaking the Glass Ceiling” Award from the Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys in Law and Business. Ms. Fujie’s appointment is celebrated and rejoiced by all corners of the Los Angeles legal community, especially the Asian Pacific American community, for whom she has been a role model and advocate.

Congratulations to APABA's incoming officers and board members, who are starting their new term today: Edmond Sung (President), Michelle K. Sugihara (President-Elect), Lorraine Y. Yu (Executive VP), Dennis M. Wu (Treasurer), Judy Suwatanapongched (Secretary), Halim Dhanidina, MyLoc Dinh, Asha Saund Greenberg, Derek Ishikawa, Robin Jung, Hyongsoon Kim, Winston Keh, Tim Laske, Kasie Lee, Cynthia Loo, Jason Pu, Jacob Satayaviboon, Byron Shibata, Jennifer Song, William Sung, Kira Teshima, Helen Tran, Felix Woo, Mia F. Yamamoto, Christina Yang, Deborah Yim and Steven K. Yoda. Please join us in celebrating the installation of our new board and honoring California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin Liu and U.S. District Court Judges Edward Chen, Virginia Phillips and Jacqueline Nguyen at APABA's 14th Annual Installation Dinner on February 24, 2012.

We would also like to thank our outgoing board members -- Jane Oak, Carmina Ocampo, Judy Sethna, Stacey Wang and Bryant Yang -- for all their hard work on behalf of APABA this year!

Attention law students! If you are interested in attending the NAPABA Convention in Atlanta next month and would like to apply for funding to help with your travel expenses, let us know! Several LA-area APA bar associations have contributed to a limited pool of funds to assist. Please email contactapaba@gmail.com (subject line "Law Student Funding") with your resume and estimated budget by Monday, October 31. As a prerequisite, you must also request funding from your law school.

Please note that early-bird registration rates for law students will expire on Friday, November 11. If you are a current member of APABA or another NAPABA affiliate, you are eligible for a $100 discount on your registration fee in addition to the early-bird discount.

Congratulations to APABA board member, civil rights activist and defense attorney Mia Yamamoto, who will be honored by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and Board of Supervisors at the October 11 John Anson Ford "Champions of Equality & Justice" Awards Ceremony! The John Anson Ford Award is given to individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted better human relations in the Los Angeles community.

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.