Judge Ron Lew talks with 2012 CAUSE Leadership Academy interns.
Charlie Woo, CAUSE co-founder and Board Chair, shares his reflections on Judge Ron S.W. Lew and his impact:
"With the passing of Judge Ron SW Lew, the Asian American community lost a beloved icon, a role model, a mentor, and a tireless advocate. He will be fondly remembered by so many whose lives he touched, including many of us at CAUSE.
Judge Lew was a trailblazer in the legal profession, with a distinguished career spanned over five decades. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 to serve as a United States District Judge for the Central District of California, Judge Lew was the first Chinese American to serve on the federal bench outside of Hawaii. He was widely respected in the legal community as a brilliant judge with warmth, kindness, and grace. He was generous with his time in mentoring generations of young lawyers and was an inspiration to many Asian Americans entering the legal profession.
Judge Lew never forgot his humble origin as one of nine children relying on a family-run laundry business near Downtown Los Angeles. He recognized the importance of community building and giving back. He was instrumental in the formation and growth of many important Chinese and Asian American organizations that have been vital to the growth and well-being of the community. He continued to provide support and advice to community groups to the end. He was always there at community events, often accompanied by his wife, Mamie, to provide support and encouragement.
Judge Lew was also an early supporter of CAUSE. CAUSE was formed because of the lack of AAPI representation in public service. There were simply very few well-known Asian American public figures with the stature of Judge Lew in those early years. Whether we needed a leader to honor, somebody to give a keynote speech, or to present awards to others, he never hesitated to help. For a young organization like CAUSE, having such a distinguished leader helped spread the message and gave us credibility and goodwill. CAUSE and many other organizations were fortunate to have such a goodwill ambassador and tireless advocate.
Judge Lew was also very generous with young people, sharing his wisdom and giving advice. For many years, he would meet with CAUSE Leadership Academy students in his chamber every Summer. That was an eye-opening experience for these students and the highlight of the program.
Judge Lew was truly a giant in both the legal profession and the Asian American community, on his shoulder so many have stood. We want to thank Mamie and his family for sharing such a wonderful human being with all of us."
2006 California Conference of Asian Pacific American Elected & Appointed Officials