Judge Rose Hom
First Chinese American Woman Judge, California Superior Court
First Chinese American Woman Judge, Los Angeles Municipal Court
Rose Hom was born in China?s southern Toishan district. Her parents brought her to the United States when she was only nine months old. Her father owned a restaurant and cafeteria in San Diego. She remembers him working seven days a week. This imbued her with a strong work ethic.
Judge Hom worked as a deputy public defender before her appointment to the bench. She says ?A public defender cannot refuse to represent clients and therefore represents those accused of crimes that range from the socially unacceptable to the violent. There is a purity in defense work because it insures that every law is followed.? said Judge Hom. ?Our laws protect all of us, from the President to the accused criminal.?
Judge Hom states, ?I am very proud of the honor of being appointed the first Chinese-American woman judge in Los Angeles and setting an example to other Chinese-American women, so that they too can be attorneys and judges.?
How does Judge Hom view Chinese Americans in the legal field today? ?With more Chinese Americans becoming attorneys, judges, and politicians, there is a sense of empowerment that they can be part of America?s social process.?
Judge Hom is currently assigned to civil trials and believes that mediation is an important alternative to a trial. ?The court is rarely a happy place. People come here because of a perceived wrong, expecting the court to right that wrong. A trial is black or white, with only one party prevailing. I find that in some cases, money damages awarded by a jury, although financially rewarding, are not emotionally satisfying. On the other hand, if parties can agree to a settlement through mediation, a win-win situation is created.? In some cases she likens mediation to psychological counseling.
Judge Hom points out that she has practiced Tai Chi Chuan for almost 30 years. ?Tai Chi deals with opposing values, Yin and Yang, light and dark, which is analogous to the two parties in court who have opposing interests. Tai Chi helps me clear my mind and allows me to see all sides. It allows me to see the strengths and weaknesses in each party?s case and helps me view the evidence in an objective manner.?
Does Judge Hom have any advice to Chinese American students considering a legal career, when there may be family pressure to go into another profession? ?Take family members to an Asian American lawyer?s association meeting, where the student and their parents can see the sea of Asian faces who are involved in law, and realize that this is an exciting profession with opportunity for advancement.?
Aside from being proud of her legal accomplishments, Judge Hom finds being a mother of two teenage sons most rewarding. ?It makes me appreciate how important is to raise two human beings to become independent and to make good choices in life.? Judge Hom adds with a little bit of irony, ?Sometimes a courtroom is like a kindergarten class; there is the genius, the class clown, the spoiled brat and the mature one. It?s my job to try to straighten them out.? (Courtesy of Jason Jem.)