Alice Wong For the People

By John Bachman

Alice Wong took pride in introducing herself at court appearances with "For the People." It meant she was advocating and obtaining justice for the often-voiceless victim.

But Wong's contribution did not stop at just juggling her family and her prosecution caseload. She also got involved in a number of community organizations, including being a founding member of My Sister's House, the first domestic violence shelter for women and children impacted by domestic violence in the Central Valley's highly diverse Asian and Pacific Islander community. She also started the Sacramento County District Attorney's Citizens Academy.

"In the DA's office, I felt I was contributing in a positive way and making a difference one case at a time," she said. But community outreach allowed her to "make a difference one community at a time" with a goal to "engage the minority communities and build bridges to show them the criminal justice system works for everyone," she said. It is important, she said, to break down institutional barriers that prevent some segments of society from understanding and using resources, such as police, courts, prosecutors, probation, and public defenders.

Her efforts were recognized with a host of awards, most recently the 2006 Sacramento County Bar Association Distinguished Lawyer of the Year.

Alice Wong and Jerry L. Chong

"Alice represents the best that the legal profession has to offer," wrote a former prosecution colleague, Richard M. Clark, in his letter nominating her for the award. "Through her tireless efforts and unbounded energy in the practice of law and community advocacy, Alice has made Sacramento a better place to live and work. She has always viewed being a lawyer as more than simply a job, but as an opportunity to improve society, to reach out and help others, and to make a difference in people's lives."

After 14 years at the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, Wong recently joined Jerry L. Chong in private practice. Chong said he met Wong five years ago as part of her community outreach efforts. He was impressed with both her willingness to sacrifice to be an effective trial attorney and her desire to give back to the community.

"She does whatever it takes and spends whatever time it takes—even weekends or into the middle of the night—to make sure she does a good job to prepare and anticipate," he said. "I wish more attorneys had her sense of duty and desire to give back to the community. She has a desire to return to the community what she has received."

Over the years, Wong's efforts have been recognized with a host of awards and accolades, including: 2006 Civic Leader of the Year from My Sister's House, recognizing community service and leadership; 2004 Best Lawyers under 40 Award by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association for achieving prominence and distinction professionally and civically; 2004 Visions in America Award from Comcast and International Channels, recognizing contributions of immigrant community leaders; 2004 Excellence in Community Leadership Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration for sustained leadership in addressing public policy issues and improving the quality of life in Sacramento Valley; 2003 Building Bridges Award from the Lambda Community Center for distinguished service to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) communities to end discrimination and build bridges; 2003 Sacramento County Asian Bar Association Community Service Award for bridging the gap between the ethnic communities and the criminal justice system.

Wong came to San Francisco from Hong Kong at age seven with her parents and four siblings. Her dad had a small needle factory in Hong Kong. But her parents sold everything to come to the United States where they worked several different jobs. It gave their children the opportunity, as Wong did, to attend UC Berkeley and Hastings Law School.

She opted for law school in part to "speak for those who could not speak for themselves." She thought it important to "learn the law in this country to protect yourself, your family and later it became the community."

After law school she took a job with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. From early in her tenure her commitment showed. One of Wong's first trials was before Tani Cantil-Sakauye, then a Sacramento Superior Court judge and now a member of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District.

The judge said Wong's "zeal, her preparedness and her willingness to really go after a witness if she thought it was necessary to expose the truth" were apparent early on. "She was very much the advocate. She was prepared and wanted to put on evidence that as a new misdemeanor deputy I did not expect her to have."

Wong said that in private practice she will advocate for women and minority rights, civil rights, fairness, and diversity. "I am fortunate to have role models and mentors, like my new law partner. I am looking forward to bringing together our unique blend of trial experience, community advocacy, and government liaison to our private practice and to impact community change. I can make more of a difference on the outside.”

She is the founding President of the CAPITAL Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to forging community strength through education, collaboration and partnerships. Through the Foundation, she is working on the Prism Project which seeks to address unmet community and criminal justice system needs, such as with domestic violence and mental health.

"The Prism Project is a comprehensive, collaborative, and innovative community-based project. We at the Foundation are looking forward to working with private organizations, government, legislators, and the community on this project that aims to change and save lives." she said.

Her husband, Ryan Chin, is an Associate Director of Marketing at Stanford University. Their son Kyle has graduated from high school and will be attending UC San Diego.

"I could not be prouder of Alice. She has been successful at everything she has put her time and heart into, from our family, to her work, to helping the community," said Chin.

"She amazes me with her energy and vitality," said Cantil-Sakauye. "She is very involved with her legal work, her community and her family. I haven't seen in any area where she isn't giving 100 percent to each of her commitments."

State Assemblymember Judy Chu noted Wong's "dedication to public service and tenacious community advocacy. . . . She has been a trailblazer for the Asian Pacific American community at the District Attorney's office, where she was the first Asian American prosecutor assigned to the Homicide Unit and worked on its most complex and serious cases."

Wong was named Prosecutor of the Year by the California Narcotics Officer Association and received the Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year Award from Mother's Against Drunk Driving.

Being the first in various roles includes the obligation "to ensure there is a second and third," she said. "You speak up because you have a duty."

John Bachman has been a Deputy Attorney General for the last seven years. For 10 years prior to law school, he worked as a newspaper reporter. He is 1977 graduate of McGeorge School of Law.