Dale Minami

Dale Minami
Born (1946-10-13) October 13, 1946 (age 78)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityJapanese American
EducationUniversity of Southern California
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
OccupationAttorney
Known forLed the legal team overturning Korematsu vs. United States
SpouseSandra Ai Mori
AwardsABA Medal in 2019
see list of awards
Websitehttps://www.minamitamaki.com/

Dale Minami (born October 13, 1946) is a prominent Japanese American civil rights and personal injury lawyer based in San Francisco, California. He is best known for his work leading the legal team that overturned the conviction of Fred Korematsu, whose defiance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II led to Korematsu v. United States, which is widely considered one of the worst and most racist Supreme Court decisions in American history.[1][2][3]

In addition to his civil rights work, Minami has been recognized as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the United States. He was named a top ten personal injury lawyers in Northern California in each year from 2013 through 2018 by Law & Politics Magazine. He is regularly ranked as a top "Super Lawyer" and regularly recognized as a "Best Lawyer" by the eponymous peer-reviewed publication.[4][5]

Early life and education

Minami was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 13, 1946, to Nisei parents who were victims of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. He grew up in Gardena, a suburb south of the city of Los Angeles. He graduated from Gardena High School where he was active as student body president and played varsity basketball and baseball.[4][6][7][8]

He attended the University of Southern California magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1968. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1971 from University of California, Berkeley School of Law.[9]

Civil rights work

In the early 1980s, Minami helped lead a legal team of pro bono attorneys in successfully reopening Korematsu v. United States, a landmark United States Supreme Court Case in 1944 which upheld Fred Korematsu’s conviction for refusing military orders aimed at the incarceration of Japanese Americans resulting in the imprisonment of 125,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry, 2/3 of whom were American citizens. They were denied notice of any charges, the right to a trial and the right to attorneys. The later lawsuit resulted in the erasure of Fred Korematsu’s criminal conviction.[10][4]

He was also involved in numerous legal cases and issues promoting the civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans.[11][12] Among the cases were United Filipinos for Affirmative Action v. California Blue Shield which was the first employment class action lawsuit brought by Asian-Pacific Americans on behalf of Asian-Pacific Americans. The case resulted in a settlement for promotions to Asian Americans, programs to accelerate promotions and a community monitoring organization.. Spokane JACL v. Washington State University was a class action to establish an Asian American Studies program at Washington State University which resulted in a settlement to establish an Asian American Studies program at the university.[13].[13]

Minami also represented a UCLA professor, Don Nakanish, in several grievance claims against UCLA for unfair and discriminatory decisions initially resulting in the denial of tenure. After several successful grievances and a prolonged struggle that became a cause célèbre in the Asian American community, the University granted tenure.[14][15][16]

Minami has been involved in the judicial appointment process and in public policy and legislation. He served as a member of the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission.[17][18] He chaired the California Attorney General's Asian Pacific Advisory Committee where he grew the committee's mandate to more assertively advocate for Asian American communities.[19] He has also been a Commissioner on the California State Bar Association’s Commission on Judicial Nominee's Evaluation and Senator Barbara Boxer's Judicial Screening Committee.[4]

In 1996, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton as chair of the board for the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund in 1996. The board which administered grants created by the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 to educate the public about the incarceration of Japanese Americans.[20][21][22]

Minami is a co-founder of the Asian Law Caucus, first Asian American public interest/community supporting Asian Americans in the country.[23] He also cofounded the Asian-American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, the Asian Pacific Bar of California and the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans.[18]

Practice

Minami's San Francisco-based law firm, Minami Tamaki LLP, specializes in personal injury, immigration, consumer protection and employment law.[24] Mr. Minami has been recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the Bay Area. He was selected one of the Top Ten personal injury lawyers in Northern California in each year from 2013 through 2018 by Law & Politics Magazine, one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers for Northern California in 2005, 2007 through 2019 and a Super Lawyer for each year from 2004 through 2019 in the Personal Injury category. He is regularly recognized as a "Best Lawyer" in the United States by the eponymous peer-reviewed publication.[5]

Clients have included Kristi Yamaguchi, Philip Kan Gotanda, and Steven Okazaki. He is counsel to several community organizations, including the Center for Asian American Media (formerly NAATA), and the Asian American Journalists Association.

Awards

Minami has received numerous awards. These include the American Bar Association’s 2003 Thurgood Marshall Award and its ABA Medal in 2019, the highest award given by the association.[17] In 2008, UC Berkeley School of Law awarded Minami its Citation Award, its highest honor.[25] In 2003, he received the ACLU Civil Liberties Award and the State Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award. A public interest fellowship has been named for him at UC Berkeley Law.

In 1993, students at the University of California at Santa Cruz voted to honor Dale Minami as one of the top-two vote getters alongside Queen Liliʻuokalani when voting on name preferences for what is now the Liliʻuokalani-Minami block at the university.[26][27]

He received honorary juris doctor degrees from the McGeorge School of Law in 1995 and the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2010.[28][29][30]

Partial list of awards

Other activities

Minami was co-executive producer with Philip Kan Gotanda of Drinking Tea and Life Tastes Good, both of which were screened at the Sundance Film Festival.[7][48][49][50]

In 2001, he was selected as one of America's Top 50 Bachelors by People magazine.[35][51]

He is active in Asian American community organizations and has served on the board of governors for the Japanese American National Museum.[18] He has been a lecturer at UC Berkeley and an instructor at Mills College.[18]

Personal life

Minami is married to Sandra Ai Mori. They have two daughters, ages 10 and 13 and a dog of unknown ancestry, Coco. He has two brothers, Dr. Roland Minami and Neil Minami.

Publications

"Shikata ga nai: Legal Justice and Asian Americans", Church and Society, January - February, 1971, 6- 14.[52]

"Asian Law Caucus: Experiment Alternatives", Vol. 3, No. 1, Amerasia Journal, Summer, 1975.[53]

"Coram Nobis and Redress:" in Japanese Americans, From Relocation to Redress, Edited by Sandra C. Taylor and Harry H.L. Kitano, 1986, p.200-202.[54]

"Guerrilla War at UCLA: Political and Legal Dimensions of the Tenure Battle", Amerasia Journal, Vol 16, Number 1, 1990.[16]

"Internment During World War II and Litigations", Asian Americans and the Supreme Court, edited by Hyung-Chan Kim, 1992, pp. 755-789.[11]

Perspectives on Affirmative Action, contributor of an article, Common Ground, 1995, p. 11.[55]

Korematsu v. United States: A “Constant Caution” in a Time of Crisis, Asian Law Journal, Vol. 10, Number 1, May, 2003.[56]

Japanese American Redress, African-American Law & Policy Report, Vol. 6, Number 1, 2004.[12]

“One Man Seeks Justice from a Nation: Korematsu v. United States”, Untold Civil Rights Stories: Asian Americans Speak out for Justice, 2009, Eric Yamamoto, Dale Minami and May Lee Heye.[57]

“A Chance of a Lifetime", Pacific Citizen, December, 2008.[58]

Echoes of History – 1942 – 1983 – 2017: From the Incarceration of Japanese Americans to the Travel Ban, Contra Costa Bar Journal October 1, 2017[59]

Echo of History Resounds Today, Hawaii Herald, February 17, 2017[60]

References

  1. ^ "Dale Minami". advancingjustice-aajc.org. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  2. ^ "Dale Minami, Minami Tamaki LLP: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  3. ^ "Dale Minami to receive 2019 American Bar Association Medal". Northwest Asian Weekly. 2019-07-03. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  4. ^ a b c d Mullich, Joe (July 10, 2018). "Trying History". Super Lawyers. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  5. ^ a b "Dale Minami - San Francisco, CA - Lawyer | Best Lawyers". www.bestlawyers.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  6. ^ Minami, Dale (June 1, 2020). "Dale Minami discusses his life of fighting injustice". ABA Journal. American Bar Association. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  7. ^ a b Wong, William. "The Producer: PI Practitioner and Activist Goes Behind The Camera for Latest Deals". San Francisco Daily Journal.
  8. ^ el arador (Gardena High School Yearbook). Gardena High School. 1964. pp. 20–21, 114, 126.
  9. ^ Zia, Helen (1995). Gall, Susan (ed.). Notable Asian Americans. Helen Zia, Susan B. Gall (1st ed.). New York: Gale Research. p. 258. ISBN 0-8103-9623-8. OCLC 31170596.
  10. ^ US District Court, Northern District of California. Fred Korematsu vs. United States. C83-0277, Jan 19, 1983.
  11. ^ a b Lorraine K. Bannai & Dale Minami, Internment during World War II and Litigations, in Asian Americans and the Supreme Court: A Documentary History 755-88 (H. Kim, ed. Greenwood Press 1992).
  12. ^ a b Minami, Dale (2004). "Japanese-American Redress" (PDF). African-American Law & Policy Report. VI (27): 27–34.
  13. ^ US District Court, Eastern District of Washington. Spokane JACL vs. Washington State University. C-78-261, Feb 2, 1984.
  14. ^ "Tempest Over Tenure at UCLA : Professor's Fight for Permanent Position Raises Racial Issue". Los Angeles Times. 1988-12-20. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  15. ^ Gordon, Larry (December 20, 1988). "Tempest Over Tenure at UCLA : Professor's Fight for Permanent Position Raises Racial Issue". Los Angeles Times.
  16. ^ a b Minami, Dale (2009-01-01). "Guerrilla War at UCLA: Political and Legal Dimensions of the Tenure Battle". Amerasia Journal. 35 (3): 142–166. doi:10.17953/amer.35.3.g627104m5w4337u7. ISSN 0044-7471. S2CID 218510041.
  17. ^ a b "San Francisco attorney Dale Minami accepts ABA Medal, urges keeping faith in "precarious times"". www.americanbar.org. American Bar Association. August 11, 2019. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  18. ^ a b c d "S.F. Attorney Receives ABA Award". Rafu Shimpo. No. 28101. Los Angeles, California. February 4, 1997.
  19. ^ Bay, Monica (December 18, 1987). "Asian Leader Vows to Surpass Van de Kamp's Initial Mandate". The Recorder (246 ed.).
  20. ^ "Civil Liberties Public Education Fund board details its grant program" (PDF). Pacific Citizen. Japanese Americans Citizens League. October 3, 1996.
  21. ^ Nakao, Annie (March 8, 1999). "Interned Japanese: Money worth the wait". San Francisco Examiner.
  22. ^ Minami, Dale (December 1997). "Giving and receiving: A Reflection on the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund" (PDF). Pacific Citizen. Japanese American Citizens League. p. 64.
  23. ^ Schibsted, Yvonne (July 1992). "A Caucus for Celebration: Asian Law Group Notes 20 Years – And Challenges For The Future". Daily Journal.
  24. ^ "About Minami-Tamaki". Minami Tamaki LLP. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  25. ^ a b "Legendary attorney to receive ABA's highest honor". www.americanbar.org. American Bar Association. July 2019. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  26. ^ "Multicultural Theme Housing". oakes.ucsc.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  27. ^ Yen, Diane (July 16, 1993). "Liliuokalani-Minami Block: UC-Santa Cruz Students Honor 2 Fighters". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. pp. A-7.
  28. ^ a b "UOP Honors Two Nikkei Civil Rights Figures". Hokubei Mainichi. No. 13377. June 5, 1995. p. 1.
  29. ^ a b "Nikkei Lawyer Receives ABA's Spirit of Excellence Award". Hokubei Mainichi. February 12, 1997. p. 1.
  30. ^ a b "Graduating Class Praised for Spirit, Passion, Drive | University of San Francisco". University of San Francisco School of Law. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  31. ^ "Boalt Hall Alumni Recognize Minami". Hokubei Mainichi. July 16, 1996.
  32. ^ a b Journal, A. B. A. "Dale Minami will receive this year's ABA Medal for his civil rights work". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  33. ^ "American Bar Association Spirit of Excellence Awards" (PDF). www.americanbar.org. February 3, 2018. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  34. ^ Yamamoto, J.K. "KQED Honors 8 Bay Area APA Community Leaders". Hokubei Mainichi.
  35. ^ a b "'People's' Sexiest Bachelors". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  36. ^ "Attorney Minami to Receive Award from Legal Aid Society". Hokubei Mainichi. June 14, 2002.
  37. ^ "NOW Is The Moment: 2020 Annual Event Program Book" (PDF). Legal Aid At Work. June 24, 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  38. ^ "Thurgood Marshall Award Past Recipients". www.americanbar.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  39. ^ "ACLU of No. Calif. to Honor Attorneys Minami, Tamaki for Work on Korematsu Case". Hokubei Mainichi. November 17, 2003. p. 1.
  40. ^ "Law Alliance to Present Award to Attorney Minami". Hokubei Mainichi. March 7, 2006. p. 1.
  41. ^ Lin, Linda (July 19, 2007). "JACL Youth Honor Attorney Dale Minami with Vision Award" (PDF). Pacific Citizen. Japanese American Citizens League. pp. 1, 11.
  42. ^ "Berkeley Law Bestows Highest Honor on Attorney Dale Minami". AsianWeek. May 9, 2008. p. 19.
  43. ^ "Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl Wudunn, Sandra Leung and Dale Minami to Receive 2009 Justice in Action Awards at AALDEF 35th Anniversary Celebration". AALDEF. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  44. ^ "Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2 - IN RECOGNITION OF DALE MINAMI". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  45. ^ Hirano Culross, Mikey; Muranaka, Gwen (April 14, 2012). "USC APASS Celebrates 30th Anniversary". Rafu Shimpo. pp. 1, 4.
  46. ^ "Dale Minami Receives Mineta Lifetime Achievement Award from APAICS". Rafu Shimpo. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  47. ^ "Asian Law Caucus 50th Anniversary Gala: "Tomorrow's World is Ours to Build"". www.advancingjustice-alc.org. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  48. ^ "Dale Minami". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  49. ^ "Interview with Philip Kan Gotanda (Chronicler of the Asian American Experience)". usasians-articles.tripod.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  50. ^ "Dale Minami". MTYKL Foundation. 2015-09-18. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  51. ^ "America's 50 Top Bachelors: Dale Minami Lawyer/Activist". People magazine. July 2, 2001.
  52. ^ "Shikata ga nai: Legal Justice and Asian Americans", Church and Society, January - February, 1971, 6- 14.
  53. ^ Minami, Dale (1975-07-01). "Asian Law Caucus: Experiment in an Alternative". Amerasia Journal. 3 (1): 28–39. doi:10.17953/amer.3.1.2r0971k222251430. ISSN 0044-7471.
  54. ^ "Coram Nobis and Redress:" in Japanese Americans, From Relocation to Redress, Edited by Sandra C. Taylor and Harry H.L.Kitano, 1986, p.200-202.
  55. ^ Perspectives on Affirmative Action, contributor of an article, Common Ground, 1995, p. 11.
  56. ^ Korematsu v. United States: A “Constant Caution” in a Time of Crisis, Asian Law Journal, Vol. 10, Number 1, May, 2003.
  57. ^ “One Man Seeks Justice from a Nation: Korematsu v. United States”, Untold Civil Rights Stories: Asian Americans Speak out for Justice, 2009, Eric Yamamoto, Dale Minami and May Lee Heye.
  58. ^ “A Chance of a Lifetime", Pacific Citizen, December, 2008.
  59. ^ Echoes of History – 1942 – 1983 – 2017: From the Incarceration of Japanese Americans to the Travel Ban, Contra Costa Bar Journal October 1, 2017
  60. ^ Echo of History Resounds Today, Hawaii Herald, February 17, 2017