A professional organization of Asian American Criminal Trial Lawyers advocating for justice and advancing the interests of the Asian American community.
Welcome to AACTLA!
The Asian American Criminal Trial Lawyers Association (AACTLA) is an organization of criminal defense attorneys, judges and law students dedicated to serving the Asian American community. AACTLA was formed to represent the interests of Asian American criminal defense attorneys, legal professionals, and law students in the San Francisco Bay Area.
AACTLA holds the unique distinction of being the only organization of Asian American criminal defense attorneys in the country. AACTLA is an affiliate organization of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), a national organization that serves the interests of 40,000 attorneys and 67 state and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. AACTLA is also a proud affiliate member of the Minority Bar Coalition (MBC) in the Bay Area.
AACTLA's mission is to improve the study and practice of criminal defense, to promote the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the legal profession. Through the volunteer work of its members, AACTLA offers a variety of service programs, including regular free legal clinics, professional development programs for attorneys, and mentorship for law students and attorneys. The organization provides a voice for the Asian American community in its advocacy both in and out of the courtroom.
President: Abigail Rivamonte Mesa, SF Public Defender's Office
VP: Sue Ra, Alameda County Office of the Public Defender
Treasurer: Jonah Chew, Law Office of Jonah Chew
Secretary: Stacey Guillory, Solano County Office of the Public Defender
Mentorship Director: Vilaska Nguyen, SF Public Defender's Office
Mentorship Co-Director: Bao Doan, Alameda County Office of the Public Defender
Membership Director: Christine Start, Solano County Conflict Defender's Office
Social Director: Jay Baik, Law Offices of Majeed Samara
Judiciary Chair: Thanh Ngo, TDN Law Group
Membership Co-Chairs: Miyuki Sakoh (Alameda); Heather Chang (Alameda); Ji Seon Song (Contra Costa); Richard Tamor (Federal); Sang Nguyen (Napa); Anita Nabha (San Francisco); James Higa (San Francisco); Jason Cueva (San Mateo); Hien Nguyen (Santa Clara); and Michael Jue (Solano).
