AABA’s Annual Installation Dinner Fun Event For All

AABA members came near and far to attend AABA’s “Red Carpet Event” of the year, ready to socialize and mix it up with other members at the 21st Annual Installation Dinner at the Far East Café on March 19, 2004. Dinners and Revelers came in style to listen to the keynote speech by Don Tamaki and to enjoy the scrumptious cuisine.

Diners munched down on Chinese Chicken Salad; Glazed Walnuts and Prawns; Seafood Bisque; Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry; Peking Duck; Fried Cod; Sweet and Sour Ribs; and Mushrooms and Baby Bok Choy. The food was so good that several dinner attendees were packing food to go at the end of the night. One diner, who will remain anonymous, said he was packing enough food to stay in all day Saturday to watch the college basketball playoffs. “We all enjoyed a delicious meal, the company of an impressive group of people, and a moving and powerful keynote speech,” said Joanna Koo, Yoriko I. McCulley and Sandra K. McIntyre of Gordon & Rees.

Introduction and acknowledgments were given by retired San Francisco Superior Court Judge Lillian Sing and Superior Court Judge Julie Tang. Sydnie Kohara, anchor for CBS 5 Eyewitness News Early Edition and the Mistress of Ceremonies for the dinner, said the duo of Judge Sing and Judge Tang was as famous as “Ben and Jerry” of the ice cream industry. When Judge Tang came to the microphone, she joked, “How about Dumb and Dumber” which sent the packed room into a wave of laughter, which the duo has done in years past with their lively introductions.

During the introduction, there was also a special presentation made to Sing, one of the original founders of the organization, for all her work as a judge and contributions to AABA. After Judge Tang spoke about Judge Sing’s impressive career (a modest Judge Sing kept trying to interrupt saying “It’s not my night.”), the crowd exploded into applause acknowledging Judge Sing’s impressive list of accomplishments.

“My good friend. It’s hard to believe you’re retiring,” Judge Tang said. “You’re a role model. Thank you for all the work you’ve done.” Judge Tang then invited all the judges to come on stage to present an acknowledgement to Judge Sing.

“I’m very proud to serve the San Francisco Bench for all these years,” said Judge Sing, who encouraged the attendees to consider working in the judiciary. “Diversity is important because it makes people understand the bench is made up of all colors…My friends, do what is necessary and speak out. I urge you to join the bench.”

A proclamation from Assemblyman Mark Leno was given to AABA. Dale Minami presented the 2004 AABA Service Award to Edwin Prather, an associate with Rogers Joseph O’Donnell & Philips. Prather, the new AABA treasurer and one of co-chairs of the AABA Social Committee, was honored for his dedicated service to AABA, which included taking the Social Committee to new heights with his creativity and vision. Minami credited Prather for bringing people into AABA with the fun parties. Minami said Prather was “one of the best party throwers.”

San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi with Deputy Public Defender Kathy Asada, and Bunnary Hin from Holland and Knight presented the 2004 AABA Law Foundation Scholarships. Adachi honored the late Judge Lenard Louie and then awarded the first scholarship in Judge Louie’s name to Caroline Nguyen, Boalt (first year). Other scholarship winners included Ka Yu Carrey Wong, Hastings (second year) – JAMS – Hon. Ken Kawaichi Scholarship; and Adrianne De Castro, Boalt (second year) – Ray Ocampo, Jr. Past President’s Scholarship. Tracie Brown, the 2003 Joe Morizumi Awards Recipient, presented the Joe Morizumi Scholarship to Stephanie J. Lacambra, Boalt (third year). The Joe Morizumi Award for Exceptional Legal Advocacy was presented to William Tamayo, the regional attorney of the United States Equal Opportunity Commission, San Francisco Office. His job involves directing the litigation and legal program of the Commission in Northern and Central California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Wake Island, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Former Alameda County Superior Court Judge Ken Kawaichi installed the new officers and board of directors. He asked each board member to describe themselves with three words and gave a chocolate coin for good luck to each person. Victor Hwang, the managing director of the Asian Pacific Island Legal Outreach (formerly Nihonmachi Legal Outreach), was sworn in as the new president of the Asian American Bar Association. The other officers are Kathy Asada, vice president; Edwin Prather, treasurer and David Chiu, secretary. The board of directors are Celia Lee, Elaine Chow, Jayashri Srikantiah, Marissa Tirona, Mai-Ang Nguyen, Eugene Pak, Garner Weng and Yu-Yee Wu. The 2004 AABA Dinner Committee was Asada, Hwang, Prather, Tirona and Malcolm Yeung (AABA Social Committee Co-Chair).

Hwang delivered the president’s message. Hwang’s points included calling on people to join Judge Sing’s cause to get more Asian Judges. He then introduced keynote speaker Don Tamaki, who is an Asian Pacific Islander and civil rights trailblazer. Tamaki is the managing partner of Minami, Lew & Tamaki, LLP in San Francisco. He was on the legal team which reopened the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Fred Korematsu, represented the Nikkei community in its suit against the San Francisco YMCA and most recently was presenting Patrick Hayashi in the case about the Barry Bonds’ historic 73rd homerun baseball. He was also co-founder of the Asian Law Alliance in San Jose and was formerly the executive director of the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco. Tamaki graduated from UC Berkeley with Phi Beta Kappa honor and received his law degree from Boalt Hall.

“It was heartening to see the tremendous number in attendance at the AABA dinner, especially to hear Don Tamaki's keynote address,” said Betty T. Yee, Chief Deputy to Board Member of the State Board of Equalization. Yee came all the way from Sacramento. “Don's words provided a poignant reminder that as the Asian Pacific Islander community continues to make progress on the civil rights and political fronts, there is more that must be done. I received Don's address, as well as the work of the 2004 awards recipients, as a call to action for AABA members and friends of AABA to remain vigilant in the move toward equality for all peoples, regardless of our respective disciplines.”

Summary of Award Winners and Honorees

Photos from the Dinner

AABA Thanks Its Supporters

BENEFACTORS
Hanson, Bridgett, Vlahos & Rudy LLP
JAMS
Preston Gates LLP
Reed Smith LLP
Rogers Joseph O'Donnell & Phillips
Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
Susan Lew & Joel Hayashida

PATRONS
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO)
Gordon & Rees LLP
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP
Minami Lew & Tamaki LLP
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop LLP
Piper Rudnick LLP (formerly Steinhart & Falconer)
Stiglich, Hinckley & Burrell LLP
Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP

SPONSORS
AABA Civil Rights Committee
AABA Community Services Committee
Baker & McKenzie
Bingham McCutchen LLP
Cooley Godward LLP
David Chiu and Friends
Fenwick & West LLP
Golden Gate University School of Law
Hancock, Rothert & Bunshoft LLP
Julie D. Soo and Friends
Latham & Watkins LLP
Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elloitt LLP
Oakland City Attorney's Office
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Rod Fong and Friends
San Francisco County Superior Court Judges
San Francisco District Attorney's Office
San Francisco Public Defender's Office
Santa Clara University Law School
Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood LLP

FRIENDS
Alameda County Superior Court Judges
Asian Law Alliance
Asian Pacific Bar Association of the Silicon Valley
Coudert Brothers LLP
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
Holland & Knight LLP
Keker & Van Nest LLP
National Association of Asian American Professionals
National Lawyers' Guild