CKA Celebrates the Milestone Nomination of
Judge Lucy H. Koh to the U.S. Court of Appeals

 

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, President Joseph Biden announced the nomination of Judge Lucy H. Koh to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. If confirmed, Judge Koh would become the first Korean American woman to serve as a federal appellate judge in the nation’s history.

“The Council of Korean Americans congratulates Judge Koh on her nomination to the Ninth Circuit,” said Abraham Kim, Executive Director of CKA. “If confirmed by the Senate, her appointment to the Ninth Circuit would be a historic milestone for the Korean American community. We thank President Biden for recognizing her leadership, dedication to the law, and commitment to public service. Judge Koh has been an active member of the Korean American community, mentoring individuals and sharing her knowledge and experience with our members.”

“Judge Koh is a tenacious, thoughtful jurist with utmost integrity,” said Michelle Rhyu, Board Chair of CKA. “She represents CKA’s core values of individual excellence combined with a steadfast commitment to service. With her nomination, President Biden has taken a step toward recognizing the importance of having Asian American representation at the highest levels of our court system.  We celebrate this step as we focus on continuing to amplify Korean American voices.”

Judge Koh currently serves as a federal judge for the Northern District of California. She was nominated for the position by President Obama in 2010 and confirmed with strong bipartisan support, 90-0. In 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her to serve as a California Superior Court Judge for Santa Clara County. Previously, she held numerous positions in private practice and in public service.

If confirmed, she would join Judge Jacqueline Nguyen as the second Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) woman to serve on the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit serves as the federal appellate court for federal district courts in Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, and Washington. Her nomination will first be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee before being voted on by the full Senate.

CKA encourages its members to stay engaged in the nomination process. You can contact your Senator to share your opinion on Judge Koh’s nomination.

 

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For more information, contact:

Ruth Song
Director of Operations & Programming
media@councilka.org
202-660-0900