Community Champion

Brandon Tsay demonstrated remarkable courage on January 21, 2023, when he disarmed the Monterey Park, California mass shooter during Lunar New Year celebrations. Tsay’s heroism has since been profiled with NBC News, Good Morning America, The New York Times, among others, and Tsay has been honored by US Representative Judy Chu, California Governor Gavin Newsom, the US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, the US Vice President Kamala Harris, and by the 118th US Congress, and at President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address. Tsay was awarded a medal of courage from the Alhambra Police Department and now runs the Brandon Tsay Hero Fund in partnership with the Asian Pacific Community Fund.

TRAILBLAZER

Judge Cheri Pham, Assistant Presiding Judge of California's Orange County Superior Court. A trailblazer, she's the first Vietnamese American in this role, with a remarkable legal career spanning 19 years across public defense and prosecution. Judge Pham's achievements reflect resilience and dedication, from her valedictorian status to being the first Vietnamese American directly elected to California's bench. She's also an Adjunct Professor at Chapman University and a groundbreaking figure in community leadership

Judge of the Year Award

Selena Dong Epley, a dynamic professional who's carved an impactful journey. Graduating from the University of Washington, she then lobbied for college students in D.C. Post-Stanford Law School, she spent 19 years at San Diego's Public Defender's office, advocating for indigent clients. In 2014, she joined the San Diego Superior Court, bringing her expertise as a family law judge and East County Drug Court judge. Currently presiding over criminal trials, she chairs the court's Bail/Jail Committee and engages with diverse communities. Selena's commitment shines as a mentor, high school coach, and supporter of refugees and affinity bar associations.

Bar Association of the Year

The Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA) is proud to be the first Asian Pacific American bar association in the country. Organized in 1975, SCCLA works to advance the professional growth of Chinese and Asian American lawyers, jurists, and law students, improve community members’ access to legal services, and advocate for the interests of the Chinese and Asian American communities at-large across Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Attorney of the year

As the People’s Attorney, Attorney General Rob Bonta has hit the ground running in his first few months — seeking justice and securing prosecutions against those who harm California.

From efforts to tackle gun violence to securing criminal sentences, his efforts leading the California Department of Justice have drawn praise from political observers and journalists alike. The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, “Bonta off to a fast start as Attorney General.”

Under his leadership, the Department of Justice has secured arrests and convictions of sex traffickers, gun smugglers, and those who prey upon children.

Bonta believes that law enforcement and first responders are essential to public safety. He is working to build a stronger relationship between our communities and law enforcement and supporting efforts to enhance law enforcement’s ability to respond, investigate, and prosecute serious offenses. Bonta launched an initiative to help cities and counties reduce local backlogs in processing rape kits to more quickly get justice for victims and announced a new effort that increases the Department’s capacity to assist local law enforcement with toxicology needs. Under his leadership, the Department of Justice is also availing resources to support local law enforcement agencies combat organized retail theft and expanding resources to help fight hate crimes.

At Bonta’s direction, the Department is putting more manpower into investigating and prosecuting corporate polluters who violate California law and endanger our health, and the Department is battling multi-national pharmaceutical companies for their role fueling the opioid crisis.

As Attorney General, Bonta is taking on schemes to defraud and cheat law-abiding Californians — wildfire victims, senior citizens, servicemembers and consumers. He is increasing transparency at the Department and expanding access to criminal justice data to enhance public safety.

The son of leaders in the farmworkers’ movement, Rob saw firsthand how those without access to power and wealth are too often cheated and taken advantage of by those with both. Rob’s parents taught him that harm done to any one person is a crime against all of us, and he decided to become a public attorney so he could win justice for the people like the farmworker families he knew as a kid.

As a Legislator, he became a national leader on criminal justice issues and passed laws to strengthen consumer and worker protections. Born to a proud Filipina immigrant, he is the first Filipino American to serve as California’s Attorney General.