May 5, 2012

State Justice Liu speaks at bar association dinner

State Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu told members and guests of the Orange County Asian American Bar Association that he is inspired by their success in the legal profession. Speaking at the organization's annual dinner April 26, Liu, the Supreme Court's newest justice, described his journey from law professor to high court justice. Liu had been nominated to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but the nomination died in the Senate. He said his nomination to the state's highest court "was a complete surprise to me." Liu said that "our society has not fully normalized the idea of Asian-American lawyers." He pointed to the paucity of such lawyers depicted on the "Law and Order" television series, even though about 10 percent of New York City prosecutors are Asian-American. "We've made a lot of progress, but there are still barriers to cross and glass ceilings to break," Liu said. "I just want you to remember that someday, perhaps one day soon, your turn is going to be next." -Don DeBenedictis