The list of AABA Events from 1976-1997 was compiled by Rina Hirai for the 21st anniversary of AABA in 1997.

August 25, 1976 - The first General Membership Meeting was held. Organizational meeting first held at SNLAF's (SF Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation) Chinatown office on 250 Columbus Avenue.

  • The Bylaws of the Asian American Bar Association, An Unincorporated Association, were adopted.
  • Three officers were elected: William Jack Chow, President, Paul Li, Secretary, and George Yamasaki, Jr., Treasurer.
  • The name was later changed to the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area.

December 15, 1976 - The first election of officers and directors. Ballots were mailed to 85 members; 73 ballots (86%) were returned.

  • Four officers and seven directors were elected in a contested election. Officers elected were: William Jack Chow - President, Paul Li - Vice President, Michael G.W. Lee - Secretary, Michael T. Ito - Treasurer.
  • Directors elected were: Patricia D. Lee, Norman Lew, Dale Minami, Clarence J. Moy, Penny N. Nakatsu, Raul S. Picardo, George Yamasaki, Jr.

1977 -William Jack Chow, President, Paul Li, Vice President, Michael G.W. Lee, Secretary, Michael T. Ito, Treasurer

  • Personal data questionnaires submitted to candidates for various public offices seeking AABA endorsement were reviewed by public appointments committee.
  • First annual picnic held.

1978 - Michael G.W. Lee, President, Michael T. Ito, Vice President, Dale Minami, Secretary, Penny Nakatsu, Treasurer

  • AABA sponsored a resolution requiring testing and certification of court interpreters in languages used by 5% or more of a county population. The Conference of Delegates approved the resolution, but the State Bar Board of Governors disapproved it.
  • Co-sponsored courtroom interpretation workshop with La Raza Lawyers Association and the San Francisco Superior Court and developed and published handbook.
  • A survey of members received responses from 38 members, 21 of whom were bi-lingual or multi-lingual. The survey suggested AABA’s emphasis should be on legislation, education, and community services to become a visible organization.
  • Education seminars included Probate and Inheritance Tax Relief, Title VII Litigation, Appellate Brief Writing, Family Law Procedures, Law Office Economics.
  • Co-sponsored community education seminars and lectures in Japantown and Oakland and San Francisco Chinatown.

1979 - Michael T. Ito, President, Lillian L. Wong, Vice President, Penny Nakatsu, Secretary, Ernest Llorente, Treasurer

  • The first Asian Legal Career Conference was conducted at Hastings Law School, sponsored by AABA and presenting Asian attorneys from both public and private practice and Asian judges from various courts.
  • Co-sponsored second courtroom interpretation workshop with La Raza Lawyers Association and the San Francisco Superior Court that was video-taped and included in Center for Judicial Education and Research library for use by judges throughout the state.
  • Proposed resolution at State Bar Conference requiring training or courtroom orientation of interpreters.
  • Candidates Night conducted and plebiscite ballots distributed for sheriff and district attorney races.
  • Theatre night featuring a stage party with the cast of “Intake-Outtake” at the Asian American Workshop was a social highlight.

1980 - Norman Lew, President, Cedric C. Chao, Vice President, Rhoda Chang, Secretary, Hon Chew, Treasurer

1981 - Teresa Tan, President, Hon Chew, Vice President, Diane C. Yu, Secretary, Paul Perdue, Treasurer

1982 - Cedric C. Chao, President, Raymond Gong, Vice-President, Rodney O. Fong, Secretary, Evelyn Low, Treasurer

  • The first AABA membership directory was published.

1983 - Raymond Gong, President, Diane C. Yu, Vice President, Rita Gee Mah, Secretary, Calvin J. Abe, Treasurer

1984 - Karen Kai, President, Kenneth Yang, Vice President, Nelson G. Dong, Secretary, Lorraine K. Bannai, Treasurer

  • AABA was incorporated as a non-profit, mutual benefit corporation and applications for tax exempt status were initiated.
  • A survey of members discovered that 90% were under age 39 and had less than 10 years of legal experience. 2/3 of AABA members were male, and 1/3 were female. 2/3 worked at small private law firms (less than 10 lawyers), and most of the remaining 1/3 were employed in salaried government or corporate positions.
  • Pro Bono panel received a grant of $12,000 from ABA to pay for translation and other costs in pro bono cases.
  • At the State Bar Conference, the Legal Services Corporation made an award for private bar involvement to AABA for its pro bono panel, and Karen Kai accepted a State Bar pro bono award on behalf of Dale Minami.

1985 - Kenneth Yang, President, Hoyt H. Zia, Vice President, John H. Sugiyama, Secretary, Suzanne Ah-Tye, Treasurer

  • Applications for tax exempt status were submitted to the IRS and Franchise Tax Board.
  • AABA hosted a dinner for lawyers from Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.
  • Education programs included trial practice clinic with California Asian Judges Association, a home buying seminar and bar examination workshops.
  • An ad hoc committee was formed to work on the retention of Supreme Court justices.
  • Meetings were held with President of State Bar regarding absence of minority attorneys on state bar committees and support for minority bar associations.
  • Court interpreters resolution submitted again to annual state bar convention.
  • Legal services clinic conducted for agencies serving Southeast Asian refugees with training in immigration, landlord-tenant, dissolution, and public benefits issues.

1986 - Hoyt H. Zia, President, Hon Chew, Vice President, Madeline Chun, Secretary, John H. Sugiyama, Treasurer

  • Tax exempt status was approved by the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board.
  • The Scholarship committee was formed and the first fund-raiser conducted.
  • AABA again co-sponsored a resolution that passed the Conference of Delegates requiring state certification of court interpreters.
  • Distributed an up-dated membership directory
  • Actively supported Supreme Court judicial retention and opposed “English-Only” Proposition 63
  • The first statewide Asian Bar Coalition meeting was held with members of all Asian Bar Associations, and AABA’s President, Hoyt Zia, was elected Vice President of ABC.

1987 - Hon Chew, President, John H. Sugiyama, Vice President, Karen G. Kwong, Secretary, Merilyn Wong, Treasurer

  • The first four scholarship awards were made at the annual installation dinner.
  • AABA members participated in the BASF minority employment study that documented discrimination in San Francisco law firms and in the presentation of the study results at the annual ABA convention.
  • The Education Committee co-sponsored the annual trial practice seminar with the Northern California Asian Judges Association, filling two courtrooms with attorneys, judges, and volunteer jurors.
  • Supported redress legislation, opposed Bork nomination, supported selection of new SFNLAF director, opposed mandatory liability insurance.
  • AABA baseball team, the San Francisco Hordes, defeated ABAS team, the Sacramento Dragons in a disputed win of the 87-88 trophy.
  • AABA members on the Coram Nobis team were successful in overturning the wartime convictions of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Min Yasui.

1988 - John H. Sugiyama, President, Kevin M. Fong, Vice President, L. Joanne Sakai, Secretary, Jane Gorai, Treasurer

  • Second annual Asians in Law dinner was emceed by Emerald Yeh and honored Justice Harry Low, while raising funds for scholarships and the pro bono panel.
  • AABA members who are partners in major “downtown” law firms hosted a reception at Yank Sing for over 80 Asian associates and Asian summer associates.
  • The Community Service Committee co-sponsored a symposium with the Asian Taskforce and worked to educate both attorneys and the community about legal issues associated with the disease.
  • The AABA bar tutorial program returned with over thirty members volunteering.
  • AABA members worked with SFNLAF to re-open an office in Chinatown that had closed in 1981.
  • A resume book with resumes of Asian law students was compiled and distributed to over 100 law firms and legal agencies.

1989 - Kevin M. Fong, President, Karen G. Kwong, Vice President, Naomi K. Yamada, Secretary, L. Joanne Sakai, Treasurer

  • The first national Asian Bar Association was formed and named the National Asian Pacific Bar Association and AABA’s former President, Hoyt Zia was elected as the first President of NAPABA.
  • The second membership directory (the first in six years) was published.
  • After several years of uncontested elections, bylaws were amended to enable the President elect and nominated officers and directors to succeed automatically to offices.
  • First social mixer held with Asian Business League.
  • Round Table programs were initiated for law firm associates, solo practice and minority law firms.
  • Proposed legislation prohibiting “English Only” workplaces was approved at Conference of Delegates and by state senate and assembly, but was vetoed by Governor Deukmejian.

1990 - Karen G. Kwong, President, Jeffrey G. Adachi, Vice President, Jani Iwamoto, Secretary, Rina Hirai, Treasurer

  • The Pro Bono Panel Legal Aid Clinic was founded, providing free, bilingual consultation and referral services every Tuesday evening at the Asian Law Caucus offices.
  • Michael G.W. Lee, former AABA president, became first Asian American president of BASF.
  • New AABA logo designed by Kathy Yoshihara and adopted by Board.
  • First AABA Work Study Grant awarded for summer intern at Asian Law Caucus

1991 - Jeffrey G. Adachi, President, L. Joanne Sakai, Vice President, Jani Iwamoto, Secretary, Rina Hirai, Treasurer

  • First annual Unity Dinner sponsored by AABA, Charles Houston Bar Association, La Raza Lawyers Association, Native American Bar Association was held to honor members of each community.
  • AABA pro bono legal aid clinic was expanded to Daly City and co-sponsored by Filipino American Bar Association (FBANC).
  • Co- sponsored seminar on “How to Become a Judge” with judges, governor’s appointment secretary and JNE commission members participating
  • Education committee successfully applied for MCLE provider status.
  • The Horde baseball team finished third in their division, defeating SF City Attorney’s office, California Rural Legal Assistance, Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro, and SF Public Defender’s Office.
  • First joint social event with Asian American Certified Public Accountants and Asian American Bankers Association members

1992 - L. Joanne Sakai, President, Ned N. Isokawa, Vice President, Suzanne K. Yamamoto, Secretary, Margaret J. Fujioka, Treasurer

  • AABA lawyers and Asian American CPA’s formed new business advocacy group named Association of Asian American Attorney and CPA Firms
  • AABA Law Foundation established as non-profit, charitable organization
  • Fundraising dinner to support AABA scholarships honored Justice Harry Lowe
  • Employment committee co-sponsored Lateral Moves Workshop with Barristers Club
  • Chinatown legal clinic expanded to include immigration legal advice

1993 - Ned N. Isokawa, President, Margaret J. Fujioka, Vice President, Julie C. Chiu and Thomas C. Lee, Secretary, Joni T. Hiramoto, Treasurer

  • Co-sponsored “Unlearning Racism” and “Rainmaking” seminars with San Francisco Women Lawyers
  • Submitted names of 40 Asian American candidates for judicial appointments and elevations to governor’s appointments secretary
  • Co-sponsored International Association of Korean Lawyers conference with Korean American Bar Association
  • Presented re-enactment of two famous cases from Asian American History in “A Court of Historical Review: Yick Wo v. Hopkins (1886) and Ho Ah Kow v. Nunan (1879)
  • Drafted and supported A.B. 2115 to award costs of court interpreters to prevailing party in family law actions

1994 - Margaret J. Fujioka, President, Joni T. Hiramoto, President-Elect, Thomas C. Lee, Secretary, Allan E. Low, Treasurer

  • Initiated In-House Counsel and Government attorneys Roundtables
  • Met with delegation of 24 lawyers from People’s Republic of China who wanted to establish ties with AABA lawyers
  • Sponsored immigration forum with other minority bar associations
  • Established Judiciary Committee to solicit, promote and appoint Asian Judges to Federal and State courts and held press conference to point out lack of Asian judges in Northern District Federal Court
  • Held law student mixer at Hastings College for all Asian law students in bay area
  • Hosted reception honoring East Bay Asian Judges
  • Protested racially offensive song about Judge Lance Ito aired on KFRC and worked with station management to implement On-Air Broadcast policy prohibiting use of racially offensive materials

1995 - Joni T. Hiramoto, President, Thomas C. Lee - Vice President, Audrey L. Sung, Secretary, Deanna Gan, Treasurer

  • Established Asian Judge/Attorney Mentor program with California Asian Judges Association
  • Established Bias and Diversity Committee to educate public on bias issues affecting Asians in legal environment
  • Worked to defeat the California Civil Rights Initiative (Proposition 209) by sponsoring discussion panels, publishing articles about the need for affirmative action, and co-sponsoring fund raisers
  • Holiday party featured Asian American Bone Marrow Registry program and announcement of NAPABA scholarships to two San Francisco area law students
  • Co-Sponsored Anna Han as AABA panelist at the Non-Governmental Organizations Annual Worldwide Forum on Women’s Issues and as Delegate to U.N. Conference on Women’s Issues in China

1996 - Thomas C. Lee, President, Audrey L. Sung, Vice President, Stanley Young, Secretary, Deanna M. Gan, Treasurer

  • AABA Website was initiated at www.nonprofitadmin.com/aaba
  • Initiated discussion of potential practice development subcommittee
  • Launched minority law firm profiles in AABA newsletter
  • AABA legal aid clinic expanded to Oakland Chinatown

1997 - Audrey L. Sung, President, Deanna M. Gan, President-Elect, Stanley Young, Secretary, Parthiv R. Sangani, Treasurer

  • Hosted ninth annual NAPABA conference featuring installation of former AABA President Margaret J. Fujioka as NAPABA president and the famous “Battle by the Bay” with East and West Coast Asian lawyers and Judges trying a civil case before NAPABA jurors.
  • Presented educational forum on Immigration and Welfare Reform
  • Conducted interview and resume writing workshop for law students
  • Hosted reception for visiting attorneys from the People's Republic of China
  • Special outreach to law students resulted in record-breaking membership drive
  • Conducted survey of membership and published updated directory
  • Launched efforts with other organizations to defend independent judiciary


AABA Historical Timeline 1998 - PRESENT
This list of AABA Events from 1998-2016 was compiled by Kathy Aoki for AABA's
 40th Dinner Anniversary in 2016.

1998 - Deanna M. Gan, President, Stanley Young, Vice President, Parthiv P. Sangani – Treasurer, Marjie D. Barrows, Secretary

  • Formation of new AABA committees:
    • AABA Civil Rights Committee (The purpose was so that AABA did not lose sight of its roots and its core mission – the protection of civil rights.  The committee’s charge was to focus on civil rights issues that had an impact on the Asian American Community.).
    • AABA In-House Roundtable (The purpose was to provide networking, education, and support for in-house attorneys.)
    • AABA Young lawyers Committee (The purpose was to hold events that would help young attorneys transition into the profession, develop mentors, and receive guidance and advice.).
    • AABA Solo and Small Firm Committee (The purpose was to address issues and provide support for solo and small firm attorneys.)
  • Issues and events held during the year included hate crime training and education, professional development seminars and programs and lunch-with-a-judge brown bad series.

1999 - Stanley Young, President, Jennifer Liu, Vice President, Joan M. Haratani, Treasurer, Edith M. Ho, Secretary


  • Co-chairs Alyssa Koo, Jasmin Patel and William Muraoka of the Public Appointments Committee and Joanne Sakai and Mari Mayeda of the Judiciary Committee helped the Board with a number of endorsements for judicial and other appointments. In March 1999, AABA wrote to the Senate Majority Leader, Trent Lott, in support of the nomination of Bill Lann Lee as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, and in August 1999 AABA also endorsed Dennis Hayashi for appointment as Director of the State Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
  • The Civil Rights Committee, chaired by Victor Hwang, Earl Lui, Irene Shin and David Chiu, brought needed attention to hate crime issues, developed AABA’s and the Asian American community’s civil rights agenda, served as a clearinghouse for public interest- and community-minded attorneys and law students, and encouraged mentorship for law students and others interested in civil rights careers.
  • AABA helped organize support for SB 1148, to eliminate racial exclusion language in California residential real estate covenants; signed onto an amicus brief advocating the constitutionality of the City of San Jose’s outreach program for minority- and women-owned businesses; and joined a letter condemning Senator John McCain’s use of the term “gook” to describe Vietnamese soldiers. 

2000 – Jennifer Liu, President, Joan Haratani, Vice President, Helen H. Kang, Treasurer, Edith M. Ho, Secretary

2001- Joan Haratani, President, Edith M. Ho, Vice President, Gene S. Woo, Treasurer, Phillip Shinn, Secretary

2002 - Edith M. Ho, President, Phillip Shinn, Vice President, Gene S. Woo, Treasurer, Victor Hwang, Secretary

2003 - Phillip Shinn, President, Victor Hwang, Vice President, Gene Woo, Treasurer, Kathy Asada, Secretary

  • AABA launched its first website and set up its membership database.

2004 - Victor Hwang, President, Kathy Asada, Vice President, Edwin Prather, Treasurer, David Chiu, Secretary

  • AABA took on the case of Eddy Zheng and helping him to win his first amendment lawsuit against San Quentin resulting in his eventual parole (litigation undertaken by me and Peter Kang of Sidley Austin).
  • Revived a dormant Minority Bar Coalition along with Katherine Zarate who was President of FBANC.
  • United the minority bars to take a strong position against the death penalty and paving the way for more minority judicial appointments.  Several API judges including Judge Elizabeth Lee of San Mateo County credited AABA with its judicial advocacy during this period.

2005 - Kathy Asada, President, David Chiu, Vice President, Edwin Prather, Treasurer, Celia Lee, Secretary

2006 - David Chiu, President, Edwin Prather Vice President, Celia Lee, Treasurer, Garner Weng, Secretary

  • Founded AABA's Mentorship Program, which partnered hundreds of lawyers & law students, senior lawyers & new lawyers, judges & judicial candidates, in addition to launching AABA's Law Student Council.
  • Expanded AABA's Community Service Clinic Programs from San Francisco and Oakland to Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo Counties, with new outreach to underserved Filipinos, Lao, Vietnamese and Pacific Islanders.
  • First APA bar association to support marriage equality, filing an amicus brief in the landmark Woo vs. Lockyer case.
  • Hosted Annual Minority Bar Unity reception; started new tradition of hosting joint happy hours with sister bar associations.
  • Doubled number of Asian attorneys on San Francisco commissions.
  • Forty percent increase in AABA membership, based on a great Membership Committee that recruited API attorneys one at a time.

2007 - Edwin Prather, President, Celia Lee, Vice President, Garner Weng, Treasurer, William Chan, Secretary

  • Raised the funds for, and hire, the first AABA Operations Director.
  • Hosted AABA’s 30th Anniversary Celebration raising over $100,000 at the annual banquet for the first time.
  • Formed a Strategic Planning Committee and instituted the Call to Service Program to encourage AABA members to give back a collective 10,000 hours of community service time to the community.
  • Received API Legal Outreach’s Business Impact Award.
  • Signed on to amici curiae drafted by AABA members supporting the right to marry and supporting a San Francisco ordinance establishing a race-conscious program for awarding city contracts.
  • Conducted the first official meeting between AABA leadership and the Governor’s Judicial Appointments Secretary.
  • Hosted first “Legally” student event.

2008 – Celia Lee, President, Garner Weng, Vice President, William Chan, Treasurer, Malcolm Young, Secretary

  • Lee is proud of the visibility that we in AABA gave during my presidency (and other years) to the lack of an Asian American Article III judge in the Northern District of California, and our advocacy for appointing one.  As of 2008, there were no Asian American Article III judges in the Northern District.  (Edward Chen was nominated in 2009 but his nomination was returned to the President; after a couple of rounds of re-nomination/return, he was finally confirmed by the full Senate in May 2011. Lucy Koh became the first APA Article III judge in the Northern District, in 2010.)

2009 – Garner Weng, President, Billy Chan, Vice President, Malcolm C. Yeung, Treasurer, Emi Gusukuma, Secretary

  • AABA received the California State Bar’s Diversity Award in recognition of the organization’s long history of advocating for diversity in the legal profession.
  • The first Law Day was held at UC Hastings College of the Law sponsored by AABA’s Community Services Committee, API Legal Outreach and UC Hastings APALSA at UC Hastings College of the Law.
  • Burham Brown’s Advancing Diversity Fair was sponsored by AABA with the Charles Houston Bar Association, FBANC, La Raza and East Bay La Raza Associations at the Oakland offices of Burham Brown. State Bar of California President Holly J. Fujie spoke about the role of the Bar and of lawyers advancing diversity in the profession. The event also featured a cultural exchange, business networking and food.

2010 – Billy Chan, President, Malcolm Yeung, Vice President, Emi Gusukuma, Treasurer, David Sohn, Secretary

  • AABA along with Bay Area NAPABA affiliates worked hard in seeing the confirmation of AABA member Lucy H. Koh to the United States District Court of Northern California. Koh becomes the first Asian Pacific American federal district judge in Northern California’s 160-year history. Koh is a long-time support of AABA.
  • AABA participated in a historic hearing to address racial and religious profiling convened by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. The hearing addressed the profiling and surveillance of Arab, Muslim, and South Asian communities and the potential reemergence of the San Francisco Police Department’s controversial intelligence unit.
  • California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakuye attended AABA’s Holiday Party at Butterfly Restaurant in San Francisco.
  • Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) became the highest-ranking Asian American politician in American history when he is sworn in as President Pro Tempore, the second highest ranking position in the U.S. Senate. Jean Quan became the first Asian American mayor and first Asian American woman elected as Mayor of Oakland, California.

2011- Malcolm C. Yeung, President, Emi Gusukuma, Vice President, David Sohn Treasurer, Ted Ting, Secretary

  • AABA members raise $19,000 at a fundraiser at Butterfly Restaurant to help support the Japanese survivors of the tsunami and earthquake in Tohoku region in Japan.
  • AABA Member Wayne Nishioka becomes the fifth Asian attorney to serve as the president of the Alameda County Bar Association.
  • AABA members support Edward Chen in his quest to be confirmed by the U.S Senate to serve as a jurist on the United States District Court of Northern California.
  • Tani Cantil-Sakauye became the first Asian-Filipina American and second woman to serve as the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court when she was sworn in on January 3, 2011. Former Washington State Governor Gary Locke became the U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.

2012 - Emi Gusukuma, President, David Sohn, Vice President, Ted Ting, Treasurer, Eumi K. Lee, Secretary

  • AABA’s Women’s and LGBT Committees were launched. During the year, AABA signed on with an amicus brief challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) in Golinski v. United States Office of Personnel Management and to an amicus brief and mission statement in connection with Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.
  • AABA signed on with an amicus brief challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) in Golinski v. United States Office of Personnel Management and to an amicus brief and mission statement in connection with Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. AABA members also worked on the In re: Sergio C. Garcia which involved Garcia, an undocumented immigrant, who sought admission to the State Bar of California.
  • AABA held their 25th annual Summer Law Clerk Reception at Yank Sing in San Francisco sponsored by Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP and more than 60 individual law firm partners. Six law firm partners who founded this event and made their mark in the legal profession were honored: Cedric C. Chao, Madeline Chun, Kevin M. Fong, Ned N. Isokawa, Larry Low, and Charlene “Chuck” S. Shimada.

2013 – David Sohn, President, Ted Ting, Vice President, Eumi K. Lee, Treasurer, Sallie Yoo, Secretary

  • Organized the first leadership retreat with Ascent, one of the largest Asian American business organizations in North America.
  • Joined BALIF in the fight against Prop 8 and DOMA.
  • Fundraised the largest total ever for the Annual Installation Dinner.
  • AABA member Tracie L. Brown became the first Japanese American woman jurist sworn in as a San Francisco County Superior Court Judge on May 21, 2013. Among Brown’s accomplishments was her extensive pro bono work with colleagues from Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in the Soko Bukai v. YWCA of San Francisco. Brown is a past recipient of AABA’s Joe Morozumi Award in 2003. Mazie Hirano (D-Hawaii) became the first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

2014- Ted Ting, President, Eumi K. Lee, Vice President, Hung Chang, Treasurer, Miriam Kim, Secretary

  • AABA organized or co-sponsored over 100 events during the term, an average of two per week, with subjects of interest to all of our membership; government lawyers, solo/small firm lawyers, pro bono-interest lawyers, in-house, junior associates, senior associates, and partners.
  • AABA held a panel discussion on Ferguson and Eric Garner.
  • AABA was the lead host in the first-ever collaboration of Northern California bar associations to celebrate Honorable Joyce L. Kennard’s 25 years serving as an associate justice on the California Supreme Court. Kennard was the longest serving jurist on the California Supreme Court before her retirement on April 5, 2014.

2015 – Eumi K. Lee, President, Hung Chang, Vice President, Miriam Kim, Treasurer, David Tsai, Secretary

  • Eumi K. Lee installed as the 15th female president and the first Korean-American woman.
  • The AABA Law Foundation awarded its first $20,000 public interest award to API Legal Outreach at the annual installation dinner, which resulted in the hiring of Chriselle Raguro who will assist in expanding the current work APILO does in the Filipino American Community.
  • The Board of Directors adopted various corporate ethics policies, including a conflict of interest policy, whistleblower policy, Form 990 policy, expense reimbursement policy, and document retention policy and adopted a rapid response policy to ensure timely responses to important issues and needs within the community. They also revisited and revised AABA’s bylaws and AABA’s mission statement and adopted an operational endowment policy to create a fund for structural growth in the coming years.
  • Lee created a Presidents’ Advisory Council consisting of the last ten AABA Presidents to serve as a resource for the Officers and Board.
  • AABA responded quickly to current events and issues facing our community, thanks in large part to the work of the Civil Rights Committee. AABA signed onto an amicus brief in the second round of Fisher v. University of Texas, regarding race-conscious admissions policies in public universities, a letter from over 70 API organizations urging the U.S. Attorney General to open an independent investigation concerning the recent arrests of Asian American scientists, and issued a press release condemning the recent Anti-Muslim and Islamaphobia within the nation’s political discourse.
  • Asians became the fast growing of the three major ethnic and minority groups in the U.S. Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana since 2008, became the first Indian American to run for President and was the first Asian American to run a nationwide campaign for the U.S. Presidency.

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