In 2014, Theodore Chuang became the first Asian American to serve as a judge in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Chuang says this opportunity was “both a great honor, and a great responsibility.”

Chuang expressed interest in the government and law from a young age, having been in his high school’s student government and having the opportunity to work for a senator and the State Department during college. Chuang also attributes his passion for law to his parents, who immigrated to the United States in the 1960s to live in a more free society.

Chuang earned his bachelor’s degree in 1991 from Harvard University, where he studied economics, before acquiring his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1994. Straight out of law school, Chuang worked as a law clerk for Judge Dorothy Nelson of the U.S. Court of Appeals in California, who was his first inspiration to pursue a career as a judge.

One of the federal judge’s favorite parts of his position is getting to interact with the jury. Chuang enjoys guiding everyday citizens through cases and the law to which he has dedicated his career. Since January 20 of this year, courts around the country have received numerous cases regarding the constitutionality of the current administration’s actions. Despite the added workload of these cases, Chuang recognizes the importance of presiding over these types of cases. In fact, one of the most significant cases he presided over took place during President Trump’s first term in office with the “Muslim Travel Ban,” which banned travel to the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. Chuang’s court, along with another court, ruled that the ban was unconstitutional. The ruling was initially upheld by the appeals courts, but eventually the Supreme Court ruled that the policy could stand.

When Chuang was appointed, there weren’t any Asian American federal judges outside of California and Hawaii. ” He considered his appointment meaningful because  “it’s important  for the community and everyone else to see that we have representation in the government and are trusted by the government to have these roles.”  He noted the responsibility that came with the job: “when you’re the first of anything, people will pay attention and judge the community based on how you do.” Overall, Chuang believes Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is “a great opportunity for everyone to think about and learn about our history as Asian Americans, how far we have come, and to commit to working together to provide even more opportunities for our community.”•