SHE’S been hailed as a Super Lawyer, referenced as one of the top trial attorneys in the nation, and the National Law Journal named her as one of the 50 most influential minority lawyers in the US.
Fil-Am Attorney Lorna Schofield, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York City, has pretty much done it all inside and outside a courtroom -- from representing star clients like Rosie O’Donnell, to prosecuting African American radicals, to winning million-dollar lawsuits on behalf of her clients. Schofield, who was also the first Asian-American President of the American Bar Association (ABA), has solidified her spot as a one of the top attorneys in the nation.
Easy choice
It’s easy to see why a New York Senator, a Congresswoman from California and several national organizations gushed over her qualifications, when NY Senator Charles Schumer recommended Schofield to President Barack Obama, to serve as a federal district court judge for the Southern District of New York.
“As a top-flight lawyer and former Assistant US Attorney, Schofield has had a distinguished legal career and would make a fantastic judge,” said Schumer in a statement on his website.
“When I select judges, I always look for three things – excellence, diversity, and moderation – and Schofield exemplifies all of these qualities. I’m pleased to recommend her to President Obama for the Southern District Bench.”
Praise came from all directions since the news broke, from professional organizations like the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), nationally recognized community groups The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress.
Even Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), released a statement applauding Senator Schumer’s decision to recommend Schofield to the White House as a potential nominee for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
“Lorna Schofield is an exceptional candidate, whose nomination would be a positive step towards addressing the glaring need for greater diversity in New York’s judiciary,” said Congresswoman Chu.
If nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the US Senate, Schofield will become the first Filipino-American in the history of the United States to serve as a federal judge.
Each organizations preached, not only about Schofield’s stellar qualifications, but also about the importance of diversity in the federal judicial level.
“It’s important for people who are involved in the justice system – lawyers, litigants and judges – to see lawyers of every type leading the profession,” said Schofield to The College Magazine at Indiana University, her alma mater.
“The message is that our legal system is open and accessible to all, whether they come as advocates or litigants. Because the world we live in is diverse, and becoming increasingly so. We can learn from each other. Every unique perspective brings something valuable to the table.”
This unique perspective, that Schofield can bring, is the reason why so many organizations and individuals have applauded Sen. Schumer’s recommendation. The numbers don’t lie. In the New York City area, ten percent of the population is Asian Pacific American yet of the over 90 active and senior Article III judges currently serving the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, none is Asian Pacific American in the Southern District and only one is Asian Pacific American in the Eastern District, according to the NAPABA and AAJC.
Schofield not only brings a diverse background, but also strength from a resilient upbringing, which has propelled to the top of her profession.
Personal life, education and career
Schofield’s mother was Priscilla Tiangco Schofield, and she was from Batangas, Philippines.
After marrying a US Serviceman, Lorna was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and grew up in New Haven, Indiana.
Her father had left the family when she was only three years old and her mother, rather than going back to the Philippines, stayed in the midwest to raise her daughter.
“My mother came to the United States because of her idealism about the country that had saved hers during World War II, and remained here, I believe, because of the stigma and shame she would have suffered had she returned to the Philippines as a divorced woman,” Schofield told The College Magazine at Indiana University. “She was a pharmacist and stressed achievement, independence and self-sufficiency as essential values.”
Schofield excelled in school. As a double-major in German and English, she graduated from Indiana University magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
She went on to earn her law degree from New York University Law School where she served as an editor of the NYU Law Review.
While working for the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as an Assistant US Attorney in the Criminal Division, she handled several cases involving commercial or financial fraud. According to her bio, during the height of the Iran-Contra scandal, she prosecuted 10 arms dealers, who were charged with defrauding the US Government to sell arms to Iran.
Success and the possibility of making history
She joined Debevoise & Plimpton where she became a partner in 1991.
At Debevoise & Plimpton, she specializes in General Commercial Litigation; White Collar Criminal Defense/Internal Investigations; Bankruptcy Litigation; and Class Actions.
One of her most famous trials was the successful defense of celebrity Rosie O’Donnell in a $100-million lawsuit brought by the former publishers of Rosie Magazine.
With such a stellar litigate career, now, several of those organizations are awaiting to see if she is able to take that next step as a federal judge and make history.
“If confirmed by the US Senate, she would make history,” said NaFFAA national chair Ed Navarra. “Given that Asian Americans are significantly underrepresented in the federal judiciary, her addition would greatly enhance the judiciary’s diversity.”
“We are confident that Ms. Schofield’s life experience will be inspiring and immensely enriching to the US District Court,” said Gloria Caoile, a civil rights advocate from Nevada.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Jan 28-31, 2012 Sec A pg.10)
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