POSTPONED: The 20th Annual Korematsu Lecture: “The Judiciary, Diversity, and Justice for All” by Judge Edward M. Chen

UPDATE: This event has been postponed, and will be rescheduled in Fall 2020.

Presented by NYU Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association. Co-sponsored by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU.

The annual Korematsu Lecture provides a forum to address Asian American perspectives on the law and to honor Asian Americans who have substantially contributed to the development of the law while challenging the status quo. This year’s presenter is Judge Edward M. Chen, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. He will speak on “The Judiciary, Diversity, and Justice for All.”

REGISTER by Friday, March 20.

Vanderbilt Hall is wheelchair accessible by ramps. Greenberg Lounge, where the event takes place, is located on the first floor. If you have any access needs, please email David Chen or Chang Hahn.

Judge Edward M. Chen is a 1979 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He served on the California Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. After clerking for US District Judge Charles B. Renfrew and US Court of Appeals Chief Judge James R. Browning, he practiced as a litigation associate with the law firm of Coblentz, Cahen, McCabe & Breyer. He joined the legal staff of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California in 1985. At the ACLU, Judge Chen co-founded the Language Rights Project of the ACLU and Employment Law Center. He worked on the legal team representing Fred Korematsu in successfully overturning his WWII conviction for failing to comply with the Japanese internment order.

From 2001 to 2011 Judge Chen served as a federal Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California. He is the first Asian American to serve on that Court’s bench in its 150-year history.

Judge Chen was first nominated by President Obama to the US District Court on August 6, 2009 after being recommended by Senator Dianne Feinstein. After a lengthy confirmation process, Judge Chen was confirmed by the US Senate in May 2011. He handles a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. His civil caseload includes litigation involving copyrights, trademarks, patents, antitrust, civil rights, and domestic and international business disputes. In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Chen has participated and led judicial seminars in Mexico, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean on case management, alternative dispute resolution and intellectual property, and serves as a member of court committees dealing with access to justice, pro se litigants, magistrate judges, and judicial education. He currently co-chairs the 9th Circuit Committee on Fairness.