Southwestern Law School's APALSA: February 2010

The following is a press release from APABA:

Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release – Feb. 24, 2010

Contact: Bryant Yang, 213-892-5898 or byang@mofo.com

APABA Applauds Nomination of Goodwin H. Liu
to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

LOS ANGELES – Today, President Barack Obama nominated University of California Berkeley School of Law Associate Dean and Professor Goodwin H. Liu to serve on the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Professor Liu’s nomination is truly historic for the Asian Pacific American community. Although there are approximately 175 active federal appellate court judges, currently there are no Asian Pacific Americans serving on the court of appeals. If confirmed, he will only be the fifth Asian Pacific American federal appellate court judge in the history of the United States. Along with Denny Chin, nominee to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, he is the second Asian Pacific American nominated to the federal court of appeals by the President.

“APABA strongly believes that Professor Liu is exceptionally qualified and will make an excellent addition to the Ninth Circuit, where there are currently no Asian Pacific Americans serving.” said Karin Wang, President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of Los Angeles. “Whether working as a public servant, private lawyer, or law professor, Professor Liu has always earned the respect of his peers for his superior intellect and fair-mindedness.”

Bryant Yang, APABA board member and co-chair of the Public Appointments Committee added, "As a former Berkeley Law student, I know firsthand that Professor Liu’s knowledge and understanding of Constitutional law are unparalleled. In addition to his sharp intellect, he has a passion for teaching and mentoring and a genuine compassion for others – traits that will make him a fantastic judge on the Ninth Circuit and benefit the federal judiciary as a whole.”

Professor Liu was born to Taiwanese immigrant parents in Augusta, Georgia and grew up in Clewiston, Florida and Sacramento, California. Professor Liu went on to study at Stanford University and Oxford University before attending Yale Law School. Staying close to his roots in California, Professor Liu is now a well-esteemed professor and Associate Dean at the University of California Berkeley School of Law.

Professor Liu will bring outstanding intellect and integrity to the Ninth Circuit. Professor Liu is a former clerk to the Honorable David S. Tatel (D.C. Cir) and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Sup. Ct) and is a nationally recognized scholar in the areas of education and constitutional law. He has earned bipartisan praise for his work, including from Republicans such as Clint Bolick and Tom Campbell. Professor Liu’s warm collegiality has also made him one of the most popular teachers at UC Berkeley School of Law. Before joining UC Berkeley School of Law, Professor Liu served as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education and was an accomplished litigator in private practice in Washington, D.C. He has been exceedingly active with numerous community and law-related organizations. His service to the community has been recognized through several awards, including the Pacific Islander, Asian, and Native American Law Students Association Alumni Award (Yale Law School); Asian American Alumni Award (Stanford University); and the Stanford Associates Governors’ Award for Exemplary Volunteer Service.

APABA congratulates Professor Liu on his historic nomination. APABA also thanks President Obama for nominating him and praises Senators Feinstein and Boxer for their support of Professor Liu’s nomination.