FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AABA Contact: info@aaba-bay.com
August 26, 2010 FBANC Contact: fbancinfo@gmail.com
SAN FRANCISCO – The Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA) and the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC) applaud the evaluation of Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye issued by the California State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation. The JNE Commission on Monday issued a written evaluation of Justice Cantil-Sakauye, finding her exceptionally well qualified, the Commission’s highest rating.
Justice Cantil-Sakauye has been nominated to serve as California’s Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The three-member Commission on Judicial Appointments, headed by current Chief Justice Ronald M. George, will hold a hearing today in the Supreme Court Courtroom of the Earl Warren Building in San Francisco to determine whether the will confirm Justice Cantil-Sakauye’s nomination. At the hearing, the JNE Commission will present their written report and local community leaders, including FBANC President Genevieve Dong, will offer their supporting testimony.
“Justice Cantil-Sakauye’s confirmation would be particularly meaningful to the API community,” said Billy Chan, AABA President, “in part because of her devotion to serving the public and our community, but also because Justice Cantil-Sakauye is an outstanding jurist with an excellent reputation in the legal community.” She has embraced her responsibilities as a mentor, a role model, and an inspiration to Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys and judges – not only locally, but on a national scale as well. Her involvement with law students and young lawyers – particularly API lawyers – has been long-standing. Further, because of her outstanding achievements, commitment, and strong leadership in the legal profession and beyond, she has paved the way for the advancement of other APA attorneys and judges. Justice Cantil-Sakauye has received many awards, including the Trailblazer Award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association in 2003.
Justice Cantil-Sakauye’s confirmation would also have a historic significance to our community. The California Supreme Court is the forum of many landmark decisions since the 1800s that have affected Asian Pacific Americans, including Tape v. Hurley. California serves one of the largest populations of APAs and has a 53% population of color. Yet, as FBANC President Genevieve Dong points out, “for over 150 years, no Asian American has ever served as the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. In fact, no Asian American has ever served as chief justice for any state high court in the continental United States, and no Filipino American has ever served on any state high court in the continental United States.”
AABA and FBANC unconditionally support the nomination of Justice Cantil-Sakauye and urge the Commission to confirm.
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The Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA) was founded in 1976 to provide Asian American attorneys with a vehicle for the unified expression of opinions and positions on matters of concern to all Asian American attorneys. AABA also encourages and promotes the professional growth of its members, serves the Asian American and minority community, and fosters the exchange of ideas and information among its members and with the legal community at large, to encourage and to promote the professional growth of its members, and to foster the exchange of ideas and information among its members and with the legal community at large.
The Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC) was founded in 1980, and it is their mission to support, educate, encourage, and empower the members of the association to excel and succeed in their educational and professional endeavors. It is further their mission to guard against injustices targeting the Filipino community. To that end, FBANC serves its community with legal clinics and seminars, and serves its membership through scholarships and networking events. FBANC is driven by the membership, led by the Board of Officers, and guided by the Board of Advisors. FBANC is a social and networking association of attorneys, students, and legal professionals located throughout Northern California.