Justice for All Recap

By: Evelyn Chow and Michelle Wu

Panel:

Q: Gloria, what inspired you to become a lawyer?

A: Knew wanted to help ppl, along the way ppl encouraged her to apply to be a judge, fortunate to be appointed by governor and now able to help young ppl

Q: What inspired you to be a part of public service?

A:First wanted to be a nurse, and felt it would be a good way to give back to the community. Was a nurse for a while then moved to Newton and became involved with the Newton democratic city committee

Q: Gloria what does a tyr\pical day look like for you as a judge

A: It really depends on who got arrested the night before and is at court. See a lot of civil cases where parents have had their kids removed from them by the state.

Q: For both: Do you guys offer internships or shadowing opportunities

A: Love to see young ppl come into their offices. Pretty active and busy, love to have interns help sort things out, in her office has interns do a drafting office to help them write their own piece of legislation. In summers there is a legislation program for young ppl who come in to see judges, governor, speaker of the house, and legislatures. The way to do it is to find out who represents you, and talk to them about internship opportunities.

Q: Gloria, how did your education and early career help you?

A: In highschool didn't think she would end up where she is now. Especially in college and law school, decided her major based on what she was interested in.

Q: Gloria, in your work what unique challenges have you faced as a woman and person in color in your field?

A: Remember sitting in a busy courtroom and being the only Asian American in the whole courthouse. Was waiting to see if any new cases were coming in for her, and the judge stopped and asked if she needed help. Thought she was the interpreter. Had been mistaken for everyone except a judge, ppl couldn’t believe there could be a woman judge.Was the first asian american judge in the juvenile court, governor made priority to diversify the court, still the only  one in her court.

Q: how can students make their voices heard on issues they care about even if they can't vote yet?

A: need to register to vote, cant vote yet but you will be able to, and time goes by fast. If registered to vote, you are more likely to read the newspapers and know what is going on. A way to learn more is to intern, or can contact your state legislature. Much more diversity now, and more women too.

Q&A for everyone in crowd

Q: When you become a judge do you need to apply, or do they js chose from who stands out

A: Governor has about 20 judicial nominees, long application, pretty extensive/intense application. They go through and decide who they want to interview, then take a vote to see if they want to pass you to the next stage. Reputation is very important no matter what field. Will call people you reference and people you don’t. Get passed on to the governor's attorney, they will interview you and give recommendation to governor, then governor will decide.Governor interview you and then you can get sworn in. Public hearing where they interview you (confirmation). Very long process.

Q: As the first asian american judge in MAs juvenile court, how do you make difficult decisions 

A: difficult to make decisions, and if there are conditions where she thinks it would be safe, she would rather have the child with their parents than locked up in jail. Also has to think about the community because the decision will affect them as well, especially if there is a victim. Certain things you learn over time, especially with more experience

Q: What was the process like going from a nurse to a state representative?

A: Seemed like it would be a nice thing to try out. With her healthcare background she thought she would have a lot to offer to the legislature. A lot of her legislatures are about healthcare.Had a good sense of families and children and what their needs are, can make laws that are helpful.

When people get arrested, it stays on record forever. Easier for juveniles because they are more protected, but much harder as an adult. Expungement is really hard because of law, but now legislatures are thinking about these things. 

Gloria Tan

• Judge of the Juvenile court

• Hears cases involving family and children

• Asian American juvenile court judge appointed in Massachusetts

• Delinquency cases

• Supported teenagers that were in trouble at court–public offenders (hired by young adults who couldn’t afford)

  • Cases young people 12-18 are charged with crimes

• Child welfare cases

  • Children may be removed from their parents/guardians by state due to parents’ alleged abuse

• Child Requiring assistance

  • Truancy cases filled by schools

• Jury Trial

  • Up to the people of the community (18 yrs) and asked to decide the case at hand

• How to become a judge?

  • In mass - governor appoints you

  • Have to be a lawyer first

  • Serve until your age 70

• Cradle-to-Prison Pipeline

  • See if they can help people/provide services to those who need (those involved in foster care, young adults, etc).

  • It is not easy for those in prison to find therapy and other services

• National Adoption Day

  • Children in foster care need homes that are caring and loving

  • ‘Forever Families’

  • A day for those who are in foster care are supported and adopted by families

  • Social workers and other professionals are supported

• She wanted to help young people–was an attorney for 15 years

• People encouraged her to apply to become a judge, but she was hesitant

• She was appointed by governor Patrick in 2013

• As a judge you are the person who makes the decision–felt as though it was a different way to make a change

• In a typical day,

  • Could have a hearing or a jury trial on

  • Makes decisions on cases involving children–detained or not, etc.

  • Depends on what was schedule that day, different everyday

• Believes that enjoying what you do will become easier

• She didn’t know that she wanted to be a lawyer/involved in government in her highschool

• Try to think about different jobs that you could be interested in–explore

• “A person’s career can go in different ways”

• Encouraging women to join legislature and office

• Discriminated against–many times that people have thought she wasn’t a judge, instead an interpreter, some other job, etc.

Kay Khan

• State Representative (represents about 42,000 people in MA)

• Finishing 30 years in an elected state representative (has to run every two years)

• Work in Boston under the Golden Dome (State House)

• Three branches (on state level, city level, and federal level)

  • Judicial

  • Legislative (Congress–she is in)

  • Executive

• Duties of a Legislator

  • Constituents

  • Community

    • Protects the city of newton and budget

  • Public Policy

    • Committees have opportunities to change things (take a look a specific pieces of legislature)–also many different kinds of committees

    • Served on a Committee that dealt with children and people with disabilities, as well as young folks who committed crimes

    • Raise the age – Bill she has worked on

      • Concerned that under the age of 17 that would go to juvenile courts, but those who were 18

      • In 2013, raise the age to 18, but continuing to try to raise the age higher

• At a young age, she wanted to give back–started as a nurse

• Went to BU, liberal arts–transferred to nursing system

• Moved to newton and worked in the newton democratic city committee

  • Active in the community

  • Helped out in the community and met officials

• After finishing her degree, she thought that she could bring healthcare to government

• Started as a state representative in Newton in 1955

• It was an opportunity for her to take what she had been learning in college to the legislature–good fit to help and make a difference in people’s lives

• About to hit 30% for women in office, advocating for more

• Internships–love having young people come into office

• Helps people apply their own pieces of legislature

• Summer programs–organized opportunities to meet judges, representatives, and other officials

• Represents the North side currently, two new legislators coming in (can talk to about internship opportunities)

• 8,000 bills will be filed in January 2025 (will be worked on in these committees)

• In 2023, she filed 45 bills

• Legislators will sign off if they are in agreement

• Banned child marriage under the age of 18

• Register to vote–16, then when you are 18 you can vote

  • Are more likely to read newspapers like the Boston Globe

• Come up with ideas and then call/send a letter to a legislator if you want to make a change

  • Like to listen to young people’s thoughts