Clinton Nominates Asian American for U.S. District Court
By AsianWeek Staff

Representatives from national Asian American organizations are calling for swift Senate confirmation of Chinese American Dolly Gee to the federal district judgeship.

The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California called on Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to schedule a Senate confirmation hearing and vote for Gee who had been nominated by President Bill Clinton to fill a vacant judgeship for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Gee was originally nominated by the president on May 27, 1999. If approved, Gee would become the first Chinese American woman to be a federal district judge.

Gee’s nomination has had broad bipartisan support, including backing from U.S. Representative James E. Rogan, R-Calif., and Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti.

Currently there are only seven Asian Pacific Americans serving on the federal bench—less than 1 percent of all federal judges, according to the groups.

Sen. Hatch has not scheduled a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on her nomination, although 12 other individuals nominated at the same time as Gee have already been approved by the Senate, the groups contend.

“Gee has earned the right to a hearing and a vote,” said Stewart Kwoh, the executive director of the Consortium. “We urge Senator Hatch and the Senate to quickly approve Gee.”

“Gee is an extremely well-qualified candidate for a seat on the federal judiciary,” Karen Narasaki, executive director of the NAPALC said. “We hope that Sen. Hatch and the Senate leadership will not turn their backs on yet another qualified Chinese American candidate. It is unfair to her and unfair to America not to let the process move forward,” she said. Narasaki is referring to Acting Assistant Attorney General For Civil Rights Bill Lann Lee. Lee had been appointed by the president in 1997 but has yet to receive Senate confirmation.

On May 24, Clinton met with Gee, signaling to the Senate that Gee is a White House priority, according to White House press officials.

Gee who is currently a partner with the law firm Schwartz, Steinspar, Dohrmann & Sommer, resides in Los Angeles, Calif.