APABA endorses Catherine Chen Hester for judicial vacancy in MD

The APABA Judicial Nominations Committee interviewed Catherine Chen Hester of Howard County, Maryland in connection with her request for a formal endorsement of her candidacy for a judge position in the District Court of Maryland.

Upon the Committee's recommendation, the full APABA Board voted to endorse Ms. Hester's candidacy and the following letter was sent to the state Judicial Nominations Commission and to Governor Ehrlich:

December 12, 2005

VIA FACSIMILE (410) 974-3275

The Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Office of the Governor
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401

Re: Application of Catherine Chen Hester for District Court Judge

Dear Governor Ehrlich:

On behalf of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, D.C. Area, Inc. (“APABA-DC”), I am writing to endorse Catherine Chen Hester for the position of judge on the District Court of Maryland for Howard County. Ms. Hester’s experience and dedication to public service make her an excellent choice for service on that court. We have already forwarded an endorsement letter on behalf of Ms. Hester to the Chair of the Maryland Judicial Nominations Commission for District 9.

APABA-DC is the oldest and largest association of Asian Pacific American attorneys in the mid-Atlantic area. APABA-DC is a dynamic organization that actively serves the needs of Asian Pacific Americans in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Since its inception in 1981, APABA-DC has grown into a diverse group of approximately 300 attorneys, law students and other interested individuals. A significant number of our members live and/or practice law in Maryland.

Ms. Hester’s appointment to the bench in Maryland is of particular interest to APABA-DC because of the significance such an appointment would be to the Asian Pacific American community. Although there is a large population of Asian Pacific Americans in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, there are currently only two Asian Pacific American judges – at both the state and federal level – in those three jurisdictions.

Ms. Hester has the qualifications and experience to serve on the District Court of Maryland for Howard County. Ms. Hester has been serving the citizens of Maryland for the past five years as an Assistant State’s Attorney and Assistant People’s Counsel. She began her public service as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore City in the Juvenile/Felony Narcotics Division, in 2000. Ms. Hester then moved to the Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County. In that position, she served as a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney and also acted as Chief of the Juvenile Trial Court Division, from 2001 to 2003. Ms. Hester then returned to Baltimore City and continued to serve as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Juvenile Trial Courts Division. In 2004, She was appointed to her current position as Assistant People’s Counsel at the Maryland Office of the People’s Counsel. Prior to her public service career, Ms. Hester worked as a civil litigation associate at the law offices of Bouland & Brush, LLC, in Baltimore, Maryland.

In addition to her public service in Maryland, Ms. Hester is also active and committed to community issues. She serves on the board of several organizations that provide a wide range of educational and cultural services. These organizations include the Women’s Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Maryland (“APABA-MD”), just to name a few. Ms. Hester is not merely a member of these organizations, but is an active participant in their activities. For example, Ms. Hester served as Chair of the Judicial Selection Committee for the Women’s Bar Association. She was a Charter member of APABA-MD and was instrumental in founding that organization. Ms. Hester then served as its President from 2004-2005. She is currently a member of the Diversity Task Force, a committee within the National Conference of Bar Presidents. Ms. Hester also teaches a course on Professionalism for the Maryland State Bar Association. In short, Ms. Hester would represent both Howard County and the State of Maryland in a manner befitting a judge who is aware of and sensitive to the community’s issues. She brings varied experiences that are reflective of the broad matters that appear before the District Court.

Based on her qualifications, professional achievements, and community involvement, there is no doubt that Ms. Hester would make a valuable addition to the Maryland judiciary. APABA-DC endorses the nomination of Catherine Chen Hester to serve as a District Court Judge for Howard County in Maryland.

Sincerely,
Janet Shih Hajek
President
2005 – 2006 Board of Directors

cc: Michael W. Davis, Esq. - Chair of the Maryland Judicial Nominations Commission, District 9
(c/o) Ms. Linda Etzold (via facsimile and mail) - Administrative Office of the Courts, Maryland Judicial Center