Justice for Asian Americans

By: Daniel Baek

Will all the current chatter surrounding the issue around the new Supreme Court Justice, the topic of diversity within the legal system is surfacing. Although Asian-Americans are one of the largest growing minority groups in the U.S, they still continue to be underrepresented in the U.S legal system. In the article “Excuse Me, Where is the Asian American Supreme Court Justice?” by Elizabeth Kurata, she mentions a series of possible reasons Asian-Americans are underrepresented in the justice system, as well as the historical consequences of previous U.S laws. The U.S has a history of racialized legal policies that discriminated against Asian-Americans, such as naturalization bans in the 1920’s and Japanese-American Internment during World War II. Each of these were mentioned by the author arguing the extent of discrimination against Asian-Americans in the U.S and the relationship between historical discrimination and current issues with Asians in the justice system. Asians have had constant struggle with the legal system itself and have been a victim of discrimination, however those prosecuting them are not people of color and give bias sentences. Asian- Americans have been consistently silenced and as the author points out, “it’s possible that Asian Americans just don’t feel like their voice matters to the rest of the U.S…[as reflected] in the 2012 election a mere only 48 percent  of eligible Asian Americans voted, compared with 66 percent of white and 64 percent of black eligible voters.” Although Asian Americans in the last few decades have made a lot of progress, the assignment of an Asian American Supreme Court Justice would have signified the importance of the Asian American voice in the United States. Currently, Asian Americans do not have a representing body in the legal system to stand up for them and share their silenced stories of discrimination and racism that has been affecting them since the beginning of Asian immigration into the U.S. The Supreme Court has historically been white, men supporting “white man” ideas that do not intersect with the needs of people of color. However, this decision would officially change the face of the Supreme Court. It would no longer be a place of fear of people of color, instead as the author Kurata states, “the Supreme Court could be a place that houses a diversity of backgrounds: a variety of intelligent sharp thinkers is what will benefit the United States.” In most recent news, with Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland as the next Supreme Court Justice, it reflects the power of white dominance in the U.S Electing yet another white man continues to suppress people of color and ignore the needs for them to be represented in the justice system. This underrepresentation, as the article points out, is not only evident in the justice system, but in education as well.

As the U.S progresses towards a less racially divided country, the Federal Government has to take action to include the voices of Asian Americans, instead of continuing an oppressing legal system. Obama’s election cannot solely combat racism in the U.S, a Supreme Court Justice is needed to begin the transition into post-racial America. A Black president does not prove that racial inequality is gone, it only presents one example of a person of color pushing through socioeconomic obstacles created by racial discrimination embedded in the law. As history has shown, the color line is still relevant today as the white majority continues to be the face of the U.S justice system. Although only one step in the right direction, to allow underrepresented groups to have a fair chance in the justice system, an Asian American must be placed in a position of power in the U.S legal system.

Excuse Me, Where is the Asian American Supreme Court Justice?