The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has named Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye as the recipient of the 2014 NAPABA Women’s Leadership Award. The award recognizes the accomplishments of women lawyers and is presented to an individual who has achieved professional excellence in her field, demonstrated leadership and understanding of women’s issues, and made significant contributions to the Asian Pacific American (APA) legal community. NAPABA notes that Cantil-Sakauye is the first APA to serve as chief justice for any state high court in the continental United States and the first Filipina to serve on a state high court. The Chief Justice will receive the award on November 8, 2014, during the NAPABA Annual Convention in Phoenix/Scottsdale.
Cantil-Sakauye’s nomination as Chief Justice has, from the beginning, been viewed with pride by the Filipino-American community in particular.