Ming Chin
Ming Chin | |
---|---|
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California | |
In office March 1, 1996 – August 31, 2020 | |
Appointed by | Pete Wilson |
Preceded by | Armand Arabian |
Succeeded by | Martin Jenkins |
Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District, Division Three | |
In office January 2, 1995 – March 1, 1996 | |
Appointed by | Pete Wilson |
Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District | |
In office August 1990 – January 2, 1995 | |
Appointed by | George Deukmejian |
Personal details | |
Born | Klamath Falls, Oregon, U.S. | August 31, 1942
Spouse | Carol Joe (m. 1971) |
Children | Jennifer and Jason |
Alma mater | University of San Francisco, (BA, JD) |
Awards | Commendation Medal Bronze Star |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Rank | Captain |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Ming Chin | |||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 陳惠明 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 陈惠明 | ||||||
Hanyu Pinyin | Chén Huìmíng | ||||||
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Ming William Chin (born August 31, 1942) is an American attorney and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California, serving from March 1, 1996 to August 31, 2020.
Biography
Chin was born and raised in Klamath Falls, Oregon.[1] His family moved to San Jose, California, and he attended Bellarmine College Preparatory, graduating in 1960. Chin then received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of San Francisco in 1964.[2] Subsequently, he studied at the University of San Francisco School of Law, and obtained a Juris Doctor in 1967.[3] After graduating, he was commissioned a Captain in the United States Army, and in 1969 was awarded both a Commendation Medal and Bronze Star for his meritorious service in the Vietnam War.
After Chin's discharge, he practiced for three years as a deputy district attorney for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, and was promoted to felony trial deputy. In 1973, Chin entered private practice with Aiken, Kramer & Cummings, and focused on litigation.[4] He is well-known among California employment lawyers as one of the four current authors of the Rutter Group practice guide on employment litigation.[5]
Judicial career
In 1988, Chin was appointed as a Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court. Then, in August 1990, Governor George Deukmejian elevated Chin to the position of Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District. On August 17, 1994, Governor Pete Wilson appointed Chin as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, First District, Division Three, beginning January 2, 1995. In November 1994, he was elected to a 12-year term.
On January 25, 1996, Governor Wilson appointed Chin as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court. Chin was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments and sworn in on March 1, 1996.[6][7][8] He was retained by the electorate in 1998[9] and 2010.[10][11] On December 16, 2014, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye named Chin to the California Judicial Council for a two-year term.[12]
In his first decade on the court, he authored the most majority opinions at the Supreme Court.[13] Among Chin's notable cases is his 2008 majority opinion in Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Assn., Inc. v. Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, a landmark California separation of powers case regarding Proposition 218.[14]
On August 31, 2020, Chin retired from the California Supreme Court.[15] On October 5, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that his seat would be filled by Martin Jenkins.
Civic activities
Chin was elected president of the Alameda County Bar Association.[16] He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of San Francisco.[2]
Honors and awards
Chin has received a series of honors from his alma mater. In 1988, he was selected as the USF Alumnus of the Year. In 1993, he was named USF Law School Alumnus of the Year. Finally, in 1996 USF Law School presented him with the St. Thomas More Award.[17]
Chin was also awarded honorary LL.D. degrees in 1996 by Southwestern Law School, in 2001 by California Western School of Law, and in 2002 by Pepperdine University School of Law.[18]
Personal life
In 1971, Chin wed Carol Joe, a pharmacist, with whom he has two children: Jennifer (b. 1974) and Jason (b. 1976).[1] Chin is of Chinese descent.[19]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Full Biography for Ming William Chin". Smart Voter '98. 3 November 1998. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ^ a b Ziajka, Alan; Elias, Robert (2015). University of San Francisco. San Francisco, CA: Arcadia Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-1439651186. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ "Alumni Profiles: Ming Chin". University of San Francisco School of Law. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ Hogarth, Marie-Anne (August 12, 2007). "Longtime Oakland firm joins with Wendel, Rosen Black & Dean". Oakland Business Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ "Employment Litigation (The Rutter Group California Practice Guide)". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ "Editorial-- Justice Ming W. Chin". San Francisco Chronicle. January 29, 1996. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ Dolan, Maura (March 2, 1997). "State High Court Justice Sworn In Amid Protests". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ "California Courts: Courts: Supreme Court: Justices: Associate Justice Ming W. Chin". Judicial Council of California. December 2, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ Statement of Vote, November 3, 1998, General Election (PDF) (Report). Secretary of State of California. 1998-12-12. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
- ^ Statement of Vote, November 2, 2010, General Election (PDF) (Report). Secretary of State of California. 2011-01-06. p. 16. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
- ^ "Nov. 2 Election Results". Trinity Journal. 10 November 2010. p. 7. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ "Chief Justice Appoints Justice Ming W. Chin to Judicial Council". California State Courts. December 16, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ Mike McKee (May 2, 2006). "Profile of Justice Ming Chin". The Recorder. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
In the decade prior to April 1, Uelmen notes, Chin, who's on the conservative wing of the bench, had authored 158 opinions for the California Supreme Court, 12 more than Chief Justice Ronald George, his closest competitor.
- ^ 44 Cal. 4th 431, 79 Cal. Rptr. 3d 312, 187 P. 3d 37 (2008).
- ^ "Justice Ming Chin to Retire from California Supreme Court". California Courts. California Judicial Branch. January 15, 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ "January 2016 Upcoming Programs and Events". Alameda County Bar Association. January 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
former ACBA Board President and California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin
- ^ "2016 St. Thomas More Award". St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
Past winners have included...Ming Chin
- ^ "Justice Ming Chin of the California Supreme Court to Speak at Southwestern Law School Commencement Ceremony". Southwestern Law School. March 23, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
Southwestern awarded Justice Chin an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1996.
- ^ Caen, Herb (January 13, 1996). "Caennecting the Dots". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
Selected publications
- Chin, Ming (January 2011). "Closing Argument: Liberty and Individual Responsibility: Partners in Democracy". USF Lawyer: 34. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- Chin, Ming W. (July 2010). "Judicial Independence: Under Attack Again?". Hastings Law Journal. 61 (6): 1345. (Hein paid subscription)(Lexis-Nexis paid subscription)
Videos
External links
- Profile. California State Courts.
- Profile. Bloomberg.com.
- Court opinions authored by Ming Chin. Courtlistener.com
- Past & Present Justices. California State Courts.
- List of Past and Present Justices. California Court of Appeal, First District.