Ming Chin Explained

Ming Chin
Office:Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
Termstart:March 1, 1996
Termend:August 31, 2020
Appointer:Pete Wilson
Predecessor:Armand Arabian
Successor:Martin Jenkins
Office1:Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District, Division Three
Termstart1:January 2, 1995
Termend1:March 1, 1996
Appointer1:Pete Wilson
Office2:Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District
Termstart2:August 1990
Termend2:January 2, 1995
Appointer2:George Deukmejian
Birth Date:31 August 1942
Birth Place:Klamath Falls, Oregon, U.S.
Children:Jennifer and Jason
Alma Mater:University of San Francisco, (BA, JD)
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Army
Rank:Captain
Awards:Commendation Medal
Bronze Star
Battles:Vietnam War

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

Selected publications

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Full Biography for Ming William Chin. 3 November 1998. Smart Voter '98. 23 October 2012.
  2. Book: Ziajka. Alan. Elias. Robert. University of San Francisco. 2015. Arcadia Publishing. San Francisco, CA. 978-1439651186. 118. September 21, 2017.
  3. Web site: Alumni Profiles: Ming Chin. University of San Francisco School of Law. September 21, 2017.
  4. News: Hogarth. Marie-Anne. Longtime Oakland firm joins with Wendel, Rosen Black & Dean. September 21, 2017. Oakland Business Journal. August 12, 2007.
  5. Web site: Employment Litigation (The Rutter Group California Practice Guide). Thomson Reuters. June 8, 2017.
  6. News: Editorial-- Justice Ming W. Chin. June 8, 2017. San Francisco Chronicle. January 29, 1996.
  7. News: Dolan. Maura. State High Court Justice Sworn In Amid Protests. September 21, 2017. Los Angeles Times. March 2, 1997.
  8. Web site: California Courts: Courts: Supreme Court: Justices: Associate Justice Ming W. Chin . Judicial Council of California . December 2, 2006 . September 21, 2017.
  9. 1998-12-12 . Statement of Vote, November 3, 1998, General Election . . 2014-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726070712/http://vote98.sos.ca.gov/Final/sov/SOV98.pdf . July 26, 2011 . dead .
  10. 2011-01-06 . Statement of Vote, November 2, 2010, General Election . . 16 . 2014-12-24 .
  11. News: Nov. 2 Election Results. September 21, 2017. Trinity Journal. 10 November 2010. 7.
  12. Web site: Chief Justice Appoints Justice Ming W. Chin to Judicial Council. California State Courts. September 21, 2017. December 16, 2014.
  13. Web site: Mike McKee. Profile of Justice Ming Chin. The Recorder. September 21, 2017. May 2, 2006. 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..
  14. 44 Cal. 4th 431, 79 Cal. Rptr. 3d 312, 187 P. 3d 37 (2008).
  15. Web site: Justice Ming Chin to Retire from California Supreme Court . California Courts . California Judicial Branch . 19 January 2020 . January 15, 2020.
  16. Web site: January 2016 Upcoming Programs and Events. January 2016 . Alameda County Bar Association. September 21, 2017. former ACBA Board President and California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin.
  17. Web site: 2016 St. Thomas More Award. St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco. September 21, 2017. Past winners have included...Ming Chin.
  18. Web site: Justice Ming Chin of the California Supreme Court to Speak at Southwestern Law School Commencement Ceremony. Southwestern Law School. September 21, 2017. March 23, 2016. Southwestern awarded Justice Chin an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1996..
  19. News: Caen. Herb. Caennecting the Dots. June 8, 2017. San Francisco Gate. January 13, 1996.