NAPABA Celebrates Justice O'Connor's Career
July 05, 2005
NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
910 17th St., N.W., Suite 315
Washington, D.C. 20006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Les Jin
July 1, 2005 (202) 775-9555
NAPABA Celebrates the Career of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
Washington, DC – Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced her resignation today in a letter sent to President Bush.
The first woman appointed to the nation’s highest court, Justice O’Connor has built a legacy of respect over the past 24 years. She is known as the court’s moderate, whose opinions have served as the key swing vote in landmark cases.
“Over the years, we have found that Justice O’Connor’s thoughtful and reasoned opinions resonate with the Asian Pacific American legal community,” remarked NAPABA President Michael P. Chu. “Her majority opinion in the landmark affirmative action case in Grutter v. Bollinger upheld what we as Asian Pacific American attorneys know to be true: diversity is a necessity in legal education, and something we continually fight for in the legal profession.”
“We urge the President to make his decisions in consultation with the Senate, and to reach out to communities of color as he considers potential nominees,” commented NAPABA Judiciary Committee Chair John C. Yang. “Justice O’Connor contributed tremendously to the diversity of viewpoints on the bench, and we hope that the President nominates a jurist that similarly recognizes the importance in considering a diversity of viewpoints.”
Since its founding in 1988, NAPABA has advocated for increasing diversity at all levels of the judiciary. NAPABA Executive Director Les Jin stated, “NAPABA urges the President to nominate an individual who is committed to protecting civil rights and advancing opportunities for communities of color.” He further remarked, “NAPABA has enjoyed a supportive relationship with Justice O’Connor for many years. Most notably, she delivered the keynote address at NAPABA’s Fourth Annual Convention in 1992. We thank her for reaching out to communities of color and look forward to her successor building upon her legacy.”
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents over 40,000 attorneys and 47 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.
