Federal Court Judge Robert M. Takasugi Passes
August 5, 2009
Federal Judge Robert M. Takasugi, the first Japanese American appointed to the federal bench, passed away earlier this week at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, his son Jon, and his daughter Lee.
Judge Takasugi became the first Japanese American appointed to the federal bench for the Central District of California in 1976, after serving on the Los Angeles Municipal and Superior Court benches. As both a district court judge for 33 years and an invitee of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Takasugi’s work has consistently been marked by a high degree of integrity and a commitment to equal access to justice.
A 12-year old Robert M. Takasugi and his family were uprooted from their home in Tacoma, Washington, relocated, and interned along with 130,000 other Japanese Americans pursuant to President Order 9066. Describing the ordeal as “an education to be fair” and one of many challenges he faced, Takasugi went on to receive degrees from UCLA and USC Law School. Thereafter, his commitment to equal justice took him to the streets of East Los Angeles, where he represented many indigent arrestees of the Watts Riots, East Los Angeles Riots, and other civil rights protestors in the 1960s before being appointed to the bench.
Via Angryasianman
Freed Journalists’ Emotional Homecoming
August 5, 2009
Unedited video of press conference in the frontyard of Laura Ling and Iain Clayton’s home in Studio City Aug. 5 from Mekhalo Medina’s KNBC NewsRaw site. WATCH.
“LING LING” & “WEE WEE”?—Convicted Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy knows a thing or two about being in prison. The Radio America talk show host is heard here announcing the news of Euna Lee and Laura Ling’s arrival at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank on Aug. 5 LISTEN.
h/t Disgrasian
Current TV Lifts Cone of Silence
August 5, 2009
The following statement appeared on the Current TV Web site Tuesday evening:
Current Media journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who have been detained in North Korea since March 17th, will be coming home on Wednesday morning with former President Bill Clinton, who is at this moment returning from North Korea having obtained their release.
We want to thank the Obama Administration for its continuous and determined efforts to achieve this outcome, and President Clinton for his willingness to undertake this mission.
All of us at Current are overjoyed at Laura and Euna’s safe return. Our hearts go out to them – and to their families – for persevering through this horrible experience.
We will have more to say in the days and weeks ahead. But for now, all our thoughts are with Laura and Euna and their families, who have shown remarkable courage and initiative for the 140 days of this ordeal.
Al Gore and Joel Hyatt
Co-Founders
Current Media
