March 17, 2015

APABA-SV Applauds Posthumous Admission of Hong Yen Chang to California Bar

March 17, 2015/ APABA Silicon Valley

Hong Yen Chang was reportedly the first Chinese immigrant to earn a law degree in the United States and the first to be licensed to practice law in any state when he was admitted to the State Bar of New York in 1888. Yet discriminatory state and federal laws kept him from joining the California two years later.

On Monday, the Supreme Court of California - whose seven justices include three Asian Americans - unanimously ruled to posthumously admit Hong Yen Chang to the State Bar of California, righting a 125-year-old injustice.

APABA Silicon Valley applauds and congratulates the members of the UC Davis (King Hall) Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) and Professor Gabriel Chin for their advocacy and role in the Hong Yen Chang Project which led to this amazing outcome.

Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley

APABA Silicon Valley is a forum for Asian Pacific American attorneys in the Silicon Valley to network, develop professional skills, participate in community service, take positions on issues affecting the APA community, and empower APAs in the Valley.