On Jan. 7, President Obama said he will re-nominate the Honorable Edward M. Chen to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California when the Senate reconvenes. Obama first nominated Judge Chen on Aug. 7 and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved him Oct. 15, thereby putting his nomination before the full Senate. Because his nomination was not acted upon before Congress adjourned for recess, Obama must re-nominate Judge Chen, and others, in accordance with Senate rules. If confirmed, Judge Chen would become the first Asian Pacific American federal District Court judge in San Francisco, bringing long overdue diversity to the court that first rendered many infamous civil rights decisions affecting Asian Pacific Americans. Judge Chen was a part of the original legal team that overturned the conviction of Fred Korematsu, 40 years after the fact.
