ABAS Joins ABA In Honoring Civil Rights Attorney Minami
By Richard K. Sueyoshi and Julie D. Soo

The summer of 2003 has been an exciting season for the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento. Members of ABAS and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) joined the American Bar Association to honor ABAS member and longtime San Francisco attorney Dale Minami as he received the ABA’s Thurgood Marshall Award for the advancement of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights at the 2003 ABA Conference in San Francisco in August.

Right: Ruthe Ashley, Quyen Tu, Mike Mireles, Thurgood Marshall Award Recipient Dale Minami, Judge Russell Hom, Rick Sueyoshi and Curt Namba.

Far left: ABAS Judicial Member and 2004-05 Presiding Judge Michael Virga. Left: Judge Tani Cantil-Sakauye

The ABA Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities selected Minami based on his overwhelming credentials as a leader in the national civil rights community. Minami, a partner in the firm of Minami, Lew & Tamaki, is perhaps best known for organizing and leading the legal team that in the 1980s, successfully reopened the case of Fred Korematsu, a U.S. citizen by birth, who resisted the World War II internment of Japanese Americans only to be convicted at trial and to have his conviction upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1944. Although the Supreme Court originally ruled against him, Korematsu had his conviction overturned 39 years later in U.S. District Court.

“ I am thrilled to see Dale Minami honored in way befitting a great civil rights leader,” said NAPABA President and ABAS Past President Ruthe Catolico Ashley. “Dale has not only empowered Asian Pacific Americans but has worked tirelessly on behalf of other communities of color.”

In addition to his civil rights legal work, Minami is credited with influencing the selection of African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, as well as Asian Pacific Americans, for executive and judicial appointments at the state and federal levels.

As ABAS approaches the annual NAPABA convention, we are proud to announce that Sacramento Superior Court Judge Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has been selected to receive the 2003 NAPABA Trailblazer Award, the highest award presented by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Judge Cantil-Sakauye’s career achievements and service to our community truly exemplify the spirit of the NAPABA Trailblazer Award. When she was appointed to the Sacramento County Municipal Court in 1990 by Governor George Deukmejian, Judge Cantil-Sakauye became the first woman of Asian-Pacific American descent to be appointed to the Sacramento County judiciary and the youngest appointed judge in the State. Since her elevation to the Superior Court by Governor Pete Wilson, Judge Cantil-Sakauye has presided over major criminal jury trials, oversaw one of the first Domestic Violence Home Court pilot projects in the state, and has been committed to domestic violence issues.

Prior to joining the bench, Judge Cantil-Sakauye served as a Deputy District Attorney and as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary and a Deputy Legislative Secretary to Governor Deukmejian. Judge Cantil-Sakauye’s career has been marked by professional excellence and commitment to her community. She has been honored for her commitment to the Filipino community and remains active in many community organizations. Judge Cantil-Sakauye currently serves as a board member of “My Sister’s House” in its continuing effort to provide a safe haven for Asian Pacific Islander women and their children impacted by domestic violence.

ABAS is honored to recognize such a wonderful and deserving recipient of the NAPABA Trailblazer Award. We look forward to presenting Judge Cantil-Sakauye with this year’s award at the NAPABA convention, which will be held in mid-November in Hawaii. The summer brought additional exciting news with the election of ABAS Judicial Member Michael G. Virga as the next Presiding Judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court. As Presiding Judge, Judge Virga will be the chief administrative decision-maker and spokesperson for the court and will oversee the Superior Court judges and court facilities which are staffed by 600 employees. Judge Virga’s term will run from January 2004 through December 2005.

Judge Virga’s accomplishments demonstrate his career-long dedication to public service. Prior to his election to the bench, Judge Virga served Sacramento County in the District Attorney’s office for over a decade. His was elected to the Municipal Court in 1992 and then to the Superior Court in 1994. Judge Virga has presided over a wide array of both criminal and civil matters during his years on the bench. Judge Virga has also been a strong supporter of ABAS and an active ABAS Judicial Member in countless API community events. Judge Virga is a past member of the Milton Schwartz Inn of Courts. He has coached youth soccer with the Greenhaven Soccer Club for the past decade, advised high school mock trial competitors, and most recently participated in the “Dialogue on America.” ABAS commends Judge Virga for his positive and lasting contributions to our community, and congratulates him as he undertakes the leadership of our Superior Court bench.