ASSEMBLYMEMBER TED LIEU
53RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2008
Contact: Ashlie Simpson
Phone: (916) 319-2053

Assemblymember Lieu to Receive Award from Philippine American Bar Association of Los Angeles

(Los Angeles, CA) - Tonight, Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) will receive the Distinguished Community Service Award, at a ceremony sponsored by the Philippine American Bar Association of Los Angeles (PABA). This year’s award is being given to Assemblymember Lieu in recognition of his continued fight for representation of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans on judicial appointments.

“As a people we have come to understand that the only way to effect change is to elect champions like Ted Lieu who will attack the status quo with unparalleled determination,” said Francisco “Kiko” Ochoa, president of PABA. “Honoring Assemblyman Lieu with the PABA Distinguished Community Service Award is our way of thanking him for his commitment to being that voice of change for California's API community.”

Last year, Assemblymember Lieu, along with members of the API Caucus, the Latino Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus, sent a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger regarding the lack of diversity among his appointments to judicial positions. Assemblymember Lieu also penned an Op-Ed highly critical of the Governor’s lack of diversity in judicial appointments. The letter and Op-Ed produced results, with the Governor now increasing the number of minority and women appointments to the judiciary.

Lieu will receive his award at the 22nd Annual Awards & Installation Banquet of PABA LA, to be held tonight at the Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows.

PABA, the largest assembly of Philippine-American attorneys in the United States, was formed to address the legal issues confronting the Filipino-American community, as well as the professional concerns of Filipino-American lawyers.