2009 NAPABA-MN Summer Happy Hour

SOLERA
Thursday, June 25, 2009, from 5-7pm

Please join us for appetizers, a cool beverage and good company.
This event is open to members, non-members, and potential members.

If you know someone visiting us for the summer, please make an extra effort to extend this invitation to them and be sure to come with them to complete the introductions.

Also, please save the date for the 9th Annual Summer Party

at Mike Schumann and Amy Xu’s house on August 2.

We look forward to seeing you!

2009 MSBA Convention, June 24-26 in Duluth

The MSBA Assembly June Agenda and supporting materials have been posted online.

The June meeting is part of the 09 MSBA Convention and will be held in Duluth on Friday, June 26 at 9:00.

It is not too late to register for the MSBA Convention.

NAPABA-MN CELEBRATES APPOINTMENT OF DAN LEW

NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION - MINNESOTA CHAPTER
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 380
Minneapolis, MN 55402

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 7, 2009
Contact: Alexander J. Kim
(612) 455-3813

NAPABA-MN CELEBRATES APPOINTMENT OF DAN LEW
TO THE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL SELECTION

Minneapolis, MN – The members of the NAPABA-MN were pleased to learn that our esteemed colleague, Dan Lew, was appointed to serve as a member of the Commission on Judicial Selection by Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Mr. Lew, a native of Queens, New York, is the son of Chinese immigrant parents. Mr. Lew is a graduate of the City University of New York at Queens College and a 1995 graduate of Hamline University School of Law (St. Paul, Minnesota).

Mr. Lew clerked for the Honorable Tony N. Leung of Hennepin County (Minnesota's first Asian-American Judge), is a former law clerk of the Criminal Division of the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office, and has served as a Minnesota Public Defender since 1996. Mr. Lew began his career with the Minnesota Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender in Duluth and later relocated to its St. Paul offices. In December 2006, Mr. Lew returned to Duluth to serve as the Managing Attorney for the Sixth District Public Defender's Office. Mr. Lew manages public defender services for northeastern Minnesota and supervises attorneys and other professional staff.

Mr. Lew has served as a Board Member of the State of Minnesota Ombudsperson for Asian Pacific American Families, and as a Minneapolis Civil Rights Commissioner. Mr. Lew is a past President of NAPABA-MN and remains active as a member.

“Dan Lew is an accomplished Asian American who has served the State and the people of Minnesota throughout his career. Mr. Lew is well-suited to serve as a member of the Commission on Judicial Selection and NAPABA-MN applauds the leadership of Governor Pawlenty in appointing Dan Lew,” said NAPABA-MN’s President, Alexander Kim.

# # #

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association – Minnesota Chapter (NAPABA-MN) was organized by Jeffrey Eng, Terry Louie, Patrick Leung and Edwin Lee in 1989. Currently, there are over 100 active members.

NAPABA-MN is an affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the only national association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. Founded in 1988, NAPABA is a powerful advocate for the APA community across the nation with over 40,000 members nationwide. NAPABA is dedicated to advancing civil rights reform, combating hate crimes, and increasing the diversity of the Federal and State judiciaries.

NAPABA-MN is committed to bringing NAPABA’s mission and goals to Minnesota. In order to advance our mutual goals, we monitor legislative developments and judicial appointments in Minnesota. NAPABA-MN supports and promotes the political leadership and professional development of our members and is a strong advocate for equal opportunity in education and in the workplace. Our members continue to work towards the elimination of bias and violence against APA Minnesotans.

Presidential Proclamation - Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 1, 2009

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, 2009

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The vast diversity of languages, religions, and cultural traditions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continues to strengthen the fabric of American society. From the arrival of the first Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants 150 years ago to those who arrive today, as well as those native to the Hawaiian Islands and to our Pacific Island territories, all possess the common purpose of the fulfilling the American dream and leading a life bound by the American ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we remember the challenges and celebrate the achievements that define our history.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have endured and overcome hardship and heartache. In the earliest years, tens of thousands of Gold Rush pioneers, coal miners, transcontinental railroad builders, as well as farm and orchard laborers, were subject to unjust working conditions, prejudice, and discrimination--yet they excelled. Even in the darkness of the Exclusion Act and Japanese internment, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have persevered, providing for their families and creating opportunities for their children.

Amidst these struggles, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed in great and significant ways to all aspects of society. They have created works of literature and art, thrived as American athletes, and prospered in the world of academia. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played a vital role in our Nation's economic and technological growth by establishing successful enterprises and pushing the limits of science. They are serving in positions of leadership within the government more now than ever before. And along with all of our great service men and women, they have defended the United States from threats at home and abroad, serving our Nation with valor.

From the beaches of the Pacific islands and the California coast, the grasslands of Central Asia and the bluegrass of Kentucky, and from the summits of the Himalayas and the Rocky Mountains, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community hails from near and far. This is the story of our more perfect union: that it is diversity itself that enriches, and is fundamental to, the American story.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2009, as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.


BARACK OBAMA



# # #

Job Announcement

POSITION: Staff Attorney

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc., (SMRLS) is seeking to fill one or more staff attorney positions in its Southwest Region. The filling of the position(s) is dependent upon funding availability. The position(s) will likely specialize initially in housing law, government benefits appeals, and health law.
SMRLS is a non-profit law firm which receives federal, state, local, public, and private funding to provide free legal help to low income and elderly people who reside in 33 counties of southern Minnesota. As Minnesota’s oldest legal aid program (founded in 1909), SMRLS has established a tradition of partnership with the private bar, a bi-partisan Legislature, the Minnesota Supreme Court and other Minnesota Legal Services Coalition programs in providing access to justice. SMRLS has an experienced, dynamic staff of 50 attorneys, 45 additional staff and 800 volunteer attorneys to provide legal assistance to 208,000 eligible persons.
SMRLS is a client-centered organization which is committed to its Mission of providing a full range of high quality legal services, in a respectful manner which enable clients to: enforce their legal rights; maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse; and empower persons and ensure equal opportunity, thus, helping persons to help themselves and become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual abilities and circumstances permit. SMRLS values, welcomes and promotes diversity in all aspects of its work. SMRLS has adopted Practice Standards and Guiding Principles to accomplish its Mission.
The SMRLS Southwestern Region, with offices in Mankato and Worthington, has a staff of 9 attorneys and 9 paralegal, clerical and other staff. Mankato is located on the Minnesota River, about 90 miles southwest of the Twin Cities and has a state university. It is the regional hub for an estimated 260,000 persons in southern Minnesota. Worthington is located on Interstate 90 in the southwest corner of Minnesota, approximately 100 miles southwest of Mankato. The Worthington community of approximately 11,000 persons is located on Lake Okabena and is the site of a community college.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The staff attorney position(s) in the Southwestern Region involves working with other attorneys, staff and volunteers to provide legal assistance to eligible clients residing in 17 counties of southwestern Minnesota. The position(s) will likely specialize initially in housing law, government benefits appeals, and health law. The position(s) may combine more than one specialty and assignments may change over time based upon client and office needs. The attorney must accept supervision and fully comply with SMRLS’ written practice standards, guiding principles, timekeeping requirements, federal regulations, and other SMRLS Board policies in furtherance of SMRLS’ Mission. Community education, outreach, intake responsibilities, and active bar participation are also expected activities. Some local travel is expected.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota or be a candidate for Bar admission. May 2009 law school graduates will be considered. Non-academic experience working in low income communities, or other activities that demonstrate an interest in working with low income clients, are preferred and will be given great weight. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with battered women and persons from different cultural backgrounds is essential. Good communication skills; ability to work respectfully and constructively with others in a team work setting; good judgment; ability to learn quickly and to work hard, independently, and under pressure; and ability to effectively handle contested case hearings are required. Language skills in Spanish, Somali or other non-English languages commonly spoken in the local community are preferred. Computer competence required. Professional overtime on the job is required.

SALARY: The salary is $43,000 DOE. Very good fringe benefits.
STARTING DATE: Open until filled.

Submit resumes with references to:
Larry Nicol, Senior Leadership Attorney
SMRLS
12 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 3000
P.O. Box 3304
Mankato, MN 56002-3304

SMRLS IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE. WOMEN, MINORITIES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

NAPABA-MN Endorses Harold Koh

April 13, 2009

The Honorable John Kerry
Chairman
Foreign Relations Committee
United States Senate
218 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Richard Lugar
Ranking Member
Foreign Relations Committee
United States Senate
306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Re: Confirmation of Harold Hongju Koh for Department of State Legal Adviser

Dear Chairman Kerry and Ranking Member Lugar:

On behalf of the undersigned Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations, we are writing to strongly endorse and urge for the quick confirmation of Yale Law School Dean Harold Hongju Koh for the position of Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State. President Obama has selected an exceptionally qualified candidate to serve as Legal Adviser. A brilliant legal scholar of national renown, Dean Koh epitomizes the American immigrant success story. With his Harvard undergraduate and Harvard Law School credentials, punctuated by Law Review and a clerkship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun, Dean Koh had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he chose a career almost entirely in public service, earning the respect and admiration of not only his lawyer colleagues, but virtually everyone he has worked with, both in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and beyond.

Throughout his career, Dean Koh has demonstrated legal excellence, professionalism, and integrity of the highest rate. It is hard to imagine how President Obama could have chosen a more qualified individual to nominate for this position. Dean Koh understands diplomacy and how the Department of State functions, having served from 1998 to 2001 at the Department of State as its Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. He began teaching at Yale Law School in 1985 and has served since 2004 as its fifteenth Dean. Before joining Yale, he practiced law at Covington and Burling from 1982–83 and at the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice from 1983–85. In addition to serving as a law clerk for Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the Supreme Court of the United States, he also clerked for Judge Malcolm Richard Wilkey of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He has argued before the Supreme Court of the United States and testified before the United States Congress more than twenty times. He has been awarded eleven honorary doctorates and three law school medals and has received more than twenty-five awards for his human rights work.

Additionally, Dean Koh is widely regarded as a leading expert on international law. He has litigated numerous cases involving international law issues, and served on the Board of Editors of the American Journal of International Law and as a Counselor for the American Society of International Law. He previously served on the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Public International Law. Dean Koh has received awards from Columbia Law School and the American Bar Association for his lifetime achievements in international law. He is author of eight books, including The National Security Constitution: Sharing Power after the Iran-Contra Affair, which won the American Political Science Association Award in 1991 as the best book on the American Presidency.
As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we take tremendous pride in Dean Koh’s exceptional accomplishments. As Legal Adviser for the Department of State, he would be one of the highest ranked Asian Americans in President Obama’s administration. In his current position, he is one of only a small handful of Asian Americans to hold the position of dean of a major law school. We greatly value Dean Koh’s participation in numerous academic programs, lectures and events that honor some of the many contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to this country’s growth. We also take great pride in his many efforts to give voice to other communities, such as the Haitian and Cuban Americans communities, and immigrants generally.

Dean Koh is an extraordinary leader who is a brilliant lawyer. The United States Senate recognized this when it confirmed his nomination by unanimous vote in 1998 to serve as an Assistant Secretary of State. Dean Koh has only built on his stellar record of achievements since that time. He deserves an expeditious hearing and, once completed, we are confident that the Committee will quickly conclude that Dean Koh will serve our country with great distinction as Legal Adviser to the Department of State.

Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the undersigned. For your convenience, you may want to use Aleli Samson, NAPABA Policy Director, as a point of contact. She can be reached at 202/775-9555 and asamson@napaba.org.

Sincerely,

Andrew T. Hahn, Sr.
President
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

On behalf of:

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
Asian American Bar Association of New York
Asian American Institute
Asian American Justice Center
Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Asian Law Alliance
Asian Pacific America Labor Alliance - AFL-CIO
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia
Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California
Asian Pacific Bar Association of Silicon Valley
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS)
Coalition for Asian Pacific Americans
Conference of Asian Pacific American Law Faculty
Hmong American Partnership
International Association of Korean Lawyers
Japanese American Citizens League
Korean American Bar Association of Chicago
Korean American Bar Association of Northern California
Korean American Bar Association of San Diego
Korean American Bar Association of Southern California
Korean American Coalition
Korean American Coalition, Dallas/ Fort Worth
Korean American Coalition, District of Columbia
Korean American Coalition, Los Angeles
Korean American Coalition, Orange County
Korean American Coalition, San Diego
Korean American Coalition, San Francisco
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
Korean American Resource & Cultural Center
Korean Resource Center
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc.
Missouri Asian American Bar Association
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association - Minnesota Chapter
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Federation of Filipino American Associations
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
OCA
Orange County Korean American Bar Association
Pakistani American Bar Association
Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego
Philippine American Bar Association of Los Angeles
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
South Asian Bar Association of New York
South Asian Bar Association of Washington D.C.
South Asian Bar Association of Northern California
Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California
Vietnamese American Bar Association of the Greater Washington D.C. Area

2009 Annual Winter Retreat, March 6-8, 2009

Rainbow Resort
36571 County Highway 35
Waubun, MN 56589(218) 734-2241

Cost for the retreat is extremely reasonable. The cost includes lodging. There is a potluck dinner on Saturday, so please feel free to bring something to share. Each cabin has a kitchen, so you may bring food items to cook. Please bring individual snacks and drinks...or more to share with your cabin-mates and fellow NAPABA members.

Costs (payable to Rainbow Resort upon arrival) are as follows:

• Single = $100 + tax


• Couple = $150 + tax


• Student = $0*


• Student + Significant Other = $50 + tax

* There is no cost for students who are NAPABA-MN members or APALSA members. We will request local law firms and individual attorneys to sponsor one or more students to attend the retreat.

>>> STUDENTS: Please RSVP as earliest possible so we can find a sponsor for you.

Sponsors are local law firms and individuals who are commited to advancing diversity of in the legal community. NAPABA-MN thanks you for your support.

This year's sponsors are:
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C.
Bowman & Brooke LLP
Rebecca A. Chaffee
Kathy Yip

Directions to the Rainbow Resort is here.

~RSVP~
Please RSVP Amy Xu (xu.amy@dorsey.com) if you will be attending.
Please provide the following information.

Select One:
Single ($100 + tax)
Couple ($150 + tax)
Student ($0)
Student+1 ($50 + tax)

NAME:
Sex:
E-mail:
Phone:
Do you need a ride?
Can you provide transportation to others?
When do you expect to go up to the resort?
When do you expect to leave the resort to return to the cities?
Potluck Item you will bring: