Asian Pacific American Federal Judges

(January 2009: This list includes both active and inactive (senior status) Article III judges, as well as magistrate
judges.  For a list of Article III federal APA judges, past and present, click here. Photo credits below are in italics.

PHOTO

NAME AND COURT

APPOINTED

California

 

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

 

(JABA site)
Honorable A. Wallace Tashima (Senior Status)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Richard H. Chambers Court of Appeals Building
125 South Grand Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105-1652
Phone: (626) 229-7373
Fax: (626) 229-7457
Carter 1980
(District Court);
Clinton 1996
(Ninth Circuit)
 

Northern District of California

 

Honorable Edward Chen, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Phillip Burton United States Courthouse
450 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 522-4050
Fax: (415) 522-2140

2001

 

Eastern District of California

 
Honorable Anthony W. Ishii
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
5554 United States Courthouse
1130 O Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 498-7341
Fax: (559) 498-3936

Clinton 1997

 

Central District of California

 


Photo Not
Available
Honorable George Herbert King
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
670 Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse
255 East Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 894-5766
Fax: (213) 894-3334

Clinton 1995


(SWU Law)
Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew (Senior Status)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
United States Courthouse
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 894-3508
Fax: (213) 894-6860

Reagan 1987


Honorable Robert M. Takasugi (Senior Status)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
United States Courthouse
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 894-2370
Fax: (213) 894-6860

Ford 1976



Photo Not
Available
Honorable George H. Wu
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
United States Courthouse
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-894-0191

Bush 2007


(CHSSC)
Honorable Jennifer T. Lum, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
United States Courthouse
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 894-5154
Fax: (213) 894-5173

2001



Photo Not
Available
Honorable Arthur Nakazato, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Ronald Reagan Federal Building and United States Courthouse
411 West Fourth Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701-4516
Phone: (714) 338-4714
Fax: (714) 338-4719

 

Southern District of California

 

Honorable Dana Makato Sabraw
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse
940 Front Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 557-6262
Fax: (619) 702-9942

Bush 2003

Colorado



Photo Not
Available
Honorable Michael J. Watanabe, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse, Annex 901
19th Street
Denver, CO 80294-3589
Phone: (303) 844-2403
Fax: (303) 335-2199
Guam
(U.S. Territory)
Honorable Joaquin V.E. Manibusan Jr., Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court, Guam
United States Courthouse, 3rd Floor
520 West Soledad Avenue
Hagatna, GU 96910-4950
Fax: (303) 335-2199
Appointed 2004
(formerly on Guam
Superior Court)

Hawaii


Honorable Susan Oki Mollway
U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
C-409 Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96850
Phone: (808) 541-1720
Fax: (808) 541-1724

Clinton 1998


(Star Bulletin)
Honorable Kevin S. C. Chang, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
C-209 Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96850-0209
Phone: (808) 541-1308
Fax: (808) 541-3519

1993


(Star Bulletin)
Honorable Leslie E. Kobayashi, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
C-353 Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96850-0353
Phone: (808) 541-1331
Fax: (808) 541-1386

Kentucky


Honorable Amul R. Thapar
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
US District Court House
310 S. Main Street, Suite 444
London, KY 40741
Phone: (606) 877-7966

Bush 2007

New York


(UVA Law)
Honorable Denny Chin
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
1020 Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse
500 Pearl Street
New York, NY 10007-1312
Phone: (212) 805-0200
Fax: (212) 805-7906

Clinton 1994

Honorable Kiyo A. Matsumoto
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States Courthouse
225 Cadman Plaza East
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 613-2180
Fax: (718) 613-2185

2004 (Magistrate);
Bush 2008 (Article III)



Photo Not
Available
Honorable Marilyn D. Go, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States Courthouse
225 Cadman Plaza East, Suite 1214S
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 613-2550
Fax: (718) 613-2555

1993

Tennessee


(NCVA Online)
Honorable Tu M. Pham, Magistrate Judge
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
359 Clifford Davis Federal Building
167 North Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 495-1351
Fax: (901) 495-1325

2003

Texas

Honorable Brenda T. Rhoades
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Wells Fargo Bank Building, Suite 300A
660 North Central Expressway
Plano, TX 75074
Phone: (972) 509-1240
Fax: (972) 509-1245

2003



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The Federal Judiciary: An Explanation

The chart to the left identifies all current Asian Pacific American judges, both active and inactive (on senior status), as well as magistrate judges, as of January 2009. As to active Article III judges who are Asian Pacific American, there are:

  • Zero judges in the Northern District of California
  • Zero judges in the federal circuit courts of appeal
  • Zero justices on the U.S. Supreme Court

Currently there are just eight active APA federal court judges appointed pursuant to Article III, out of approximately 810 active federal judges, or less than one percent. These eight judges are all district court judges, they are:

  • Judge Anthony W. Ishii (E.D. Cal.)

  • Judge George Herbert King (C.D. Cal.)

  • Judge George H. Wu (C.D. Cal.)

  • Judge Dana Makato Sabraw (S.D. Cal.)

  • Judge Denny Chin (S.D.N.Y.)

  • Judge Kiyo Ann Matsumoto (E.D.N.Y.)

  • Judge Susan Oki Mollway (D. Hawaii)

  • Judge Amul R. Thapar (E.D. Kentucky)

There are no active APA judges on the U.S. Supreme Court or any of the federal circuit courts of appeals (Judge A. Wallace Tashima is on senior status).

In the Northern District of California, which includes San Franciso, Santa Clara and Alameda counties, there has never been an APA judge appointed under Article III.

"Article III" refers to those judges appointed pursuant to Article III of the Constitution, which include the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate court judges, and federal district court judges. For an explanation, click here.

"Senior status" refers to judges who have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts. When a federal judge is at least 65 years old and has served at least 15 years, with one less year of service required for each additional year of age, they are allowed to assume senior status. Senior judges do not occupy seats, rather, their seats become vacant, and new full-time judges may be appointed to fill their spots.


See a list of Selected APA California Judges.


Return to APAs In The Judiciary Resource Page