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Kriss Worthington Councilmember, City of Berkeley District 7 2180 Milvia St

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Kriss Worthington Councilmember, City of Berkeley District 7 2180 Milvia St Kriss Worthington Councilmember, City of Berkeley District 7 th 2180 Milvia St. 5 Floor Berkeley, CA 94704 PHONE 510-981-7170 FAX 510-981-7177 [email protected] CONSENT CALENDAR November 17, 2009 To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council From: Councilmember Kriss Worthington Subject: Support Judge Edward Chen’s Nomination to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California RECOMMENDATION Send a letter urging U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein to continue supporting Judge Edward Chen’s nomination to serve as a federal district judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. BACKGROUND Judge Edward Chen’s record of public service and his experience as a federal magistrate has given him the qualifications necessary to serve the people of California with fairness and honesty. Judge Chen currently serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, a position he has held since 2001. Judge Chen received the 2007 Barristers Choice Award, was the California Law Review’s “Alumnus of the Year” in 2002, and has received a “well-qualified” ranking from the American Bar Association for the current nomination. Judge Chen received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975 and his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1979. Immediately following law school, he served judicial clerkships for U.S. District Judge Charles B. Renfrew for the Northern District of California and U.S. Circuit Judge James R. Browning of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. From 1982 until 1985, he worked as an associate at the San Francisco firm of Coblentz, Cahen, McCabe & Breyer. Between 1985 and taking the bench in 2001, Judge Chen worked as a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California Chapter, where he was primarily engaged in civil litigation. Judge Chen also was part of the famous legal team led by Dale Minami that successfully overturned Fred Korematsu’s original criminal conviction for resisting internment. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS None. CONTACT PERSON Councilmember Kriss Worthington 510-981-7170 District 7 Intern Katherine Lockwood 818-625-5428 Dear Senators Boxer and Feinstein: The City of Berkeley encourages your continued support for the nomination of Judge Edward Chen to serve as federal district judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Judge Edward Chen’s record of public service and his experience as a federal magistrate has given him the qualifications necessary to serve the people of California with fairness and honesty. Judge Chen currently serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, a position he has held since 2001. Judge Chen received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975 and his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1979. Immediately following law school, he served judicial clerkships for U.S. District Judge Charles B. Renfrew for the Northern District of California and U.S. Circuit Judge James R. Browning of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. From 1982 until 1985, he worked as an associate at the San Francisco firm of Coblentz, Cahen, McCabe & Breyer. Between 1985 and taking the bench in 2001, Judge Chen worked as a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California Chapter, where he was primarily engaged in civil litigation. Judge Chen also was part of the famous legal team led by Dale Minami that successfully overturned Fred Korematsu’s original criminal conviction for resisting internment. In addition to his high qualifications, Judge Chen has received support and commendations from many diverse groups, including the public interest, law enforcement, legal, and minority communities. Some of these parties include the Asian Pacific Bar of California, the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Asian American Justice Center, the Bar Association of San Francisco, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, President David Wong of the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs' Association, the National Organization of Women (NOW), Maria Blanco of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Coalition for Civil Rights, and Executive Director Dorothy Ehrlich of the ACLU of Northern California. Additionally, Judge Chen received the 2007 Barristers Choice Award, was the California Law Review’s “Alumnus of the Year” in 2002, and has received a “well-qualified” ranking from the American Bar Association for the current nomination. However, Judge Chen’s nomination has become embroiled in partisan politics and an escalated smear campaign. The use of out-of-context sound bites and snippets of writings has marred the accomplishments of this outstanding judicial candidate. In his eight years as a magistrate and his extensive preceding legal experience, Judge Chen has demonstrated his fidelity to the law and commitment to his role as neutral arbiter. The City of Berkeley applauds your leadership on this issue and urges your continued support for the nomination of Judge Edward Chen to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. .
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