Judge Lew
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It is unfortunate that the nomination of the first Chinese-American for an opening on the federal bench should be marred by inferences of racial favoritism.
The Times article focused on the “speculation” that Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) needed to make more minority appointments, while it glossed over the fact that Wilson’s Merit Committee rated Judge Ronald Lew “exceptionally well qualified.”
Asian-Pacific Americans have suffered a long history of exclusion and discrimination in California. The vestiges of this history still linger with us.
Institutions such as the federal judiciary have long been relatively closed to well qualified Asian-Pacific Americans.
We applaud Wilson for the commitment toward making the federal judicial selections process more open and accessible to all well-qualified members of our society.
WILLIAM LEW TAN
Los Angeles
Tan is chairman of the board of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics.
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