The memorial service for New York State’s first Asian female judge, Dorothy Chin-Brandt, was held on May 24 in Flushing. Nearly a hundred of Dorothy Chin-Brandt’s friends, Asian community leaders, and representatives from the Asian judiciary attended to pay tribute to her pioneering role as a Chinese-American woman in the legal profession, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of Asian female judges.
Prominent figures such as Congressman Meng Zhaowen, Councilwoman Huang Minyi, Deputy District Attorney of Queen’s District Attorney’s Office Rosemary Chao, New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division Judge Phillip Hom, and veteran Chinese-American lawyer Hugh Mo delivered speeches, praising Dorothy Chin-Brandt as a trailblazer for Asian women in the judiciary and a shining example for the Chinese community. Friends of Dorothy Chin-Brandt and co-founder of the Queens Voters Association Yang Ailun, as well as her relatives, shared memories of her life and the unforgettable moments they had with her.
Meng Zhaowen stated that Dorothy Chin-Brandt’s groundbreaking story paved the way for others and reminded us that the stories and contributions of Asians, like hers, are an integral part of America.
Huang Minyi described Dorothy Chin-Brandt as a pioneer, highlighting that it is no easy feat for an Asian woman to be elected anywhere, setting a positive example for others.
Hugh Mo’s speech not only emphasized Dorothy Chin-Brandt’s pioneering role but also reflected on the progress of Asians in the New York legal community. He mentioned that in the early 1980s, there were only three Asians in the New York court system — one was a housing court judge, one was a criminal court judge, and the other was a secretary for a civil court judge.
“At the time, Asians were not considered part of the legal profession,” Mo said. “If you wanted to gather ten lawyers for a meal at a Chinese restaurant, you couldn’t even find ten. Dorothy once told me that the Chinese lawyers in New York could all fit into a phone booth.”
Later on, there were six or seven Asian lawyers practicing in Chinatown, most of whom were World War II veterans who pursued legal studies using the GI Bill but struggled to find work outside the Chinese community. They mainly dealt with real estate transactions, restaurant closures, or small civil cases within the community. When it came to litigation cases, they would refer them to white law firms.
In 1986, Dorothy Chin-Brandt ran for judge and narrowly lost by 138 votes out of 100,000 ballots. The following year, she ran again and made history by winning. Mo expressed, “We were completely shocked at the time.”
Mo believes that this memorial service “not only celebrates her legacy but also celebrates how far Asian-Americans have come.” According to Mo, there are now over sixty Asian judges in New York State, but he added, “We still have a long way to go.”
The memorial service for Judge Dorothy Chin-Brandt was jointly organized by Zheng Xiangyuan, former president and chairman of the advisory committee of the New York chapter of the Chinese-American Association, Chen Jiayang, executive director of the New York Asian American Bar Association, Le Qi Guang, former president of the New York chapter of the Chinese-American Association, President Li Zhiqing, former president Zhu Liu Wanling; Lily Lai, president of the New York City Chinese Employee Association, vice president Lily Jiewei; Sylvia Shea, founding president of the United Chinese Women’s Association.