U.S. District Judge Pamela K Chen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

11/07/2017

U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen

c/o U.S. District Court for Eastern District of New York

Federal Courthouse

225 Cadman Plaza East

Brooklyn, NY  11201

Dear U.S. District Judge Chen,

My name is Matt Winick, an Asian American from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history, social justice, and public policy.  In these subjects, I like to learn the need to make Civil Rights stronger to reduce discrimination,  have criminal justice reform to help protect people’s rights while reduce crime, the need for diversity to help improve society, and many others.  U.S. District Judge Chen, the main reason I’m writing you a letter is to explain how I find your role as an Asian American in helping the community, your work in the judicial system, and your role as U.S. District Judge in the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of New York to be very inspiring to me.

When you served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York from 2008-2013, I liked on how you were a strong supporter of Civil Rights by prosecuting people who commit hate-crime to help protect minorities including people who are different, advocate for people with disabilities rights,  and express the need to end racial profiling in law enforcement including the judicial system.  Another thing that I liked about your work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney was how you prosecuted people who committed human trafficking to help protect victims from abuse,  pushed for investigation into public officials who are  corrupt or accept illegal bribes, and supported programs to help victims of domestic violence or victims of human trafficking get law enforcement resources to help deal with their trauma.  In you role as Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement for the New York State Division of Human Rights,  I especially liked on how you worked hard in the department to combat against discrimination in housing, employment, and public places based on age, gender, sexual orientation, race, and disability.  In August 2012, I really liked on how you accepted President Obama to nominate you to serve as U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of New York to help him work on improving the judicial system.  In March 2013, I was amazed on how you made history by becoming the first Asian lesbian to serve in the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of New York. In your current position as U.S. District Judge, I truly appreciate on how you are a continuous strong supporter of Civil Rights including people with disabilities’ rights, express the need to protect fundamental civil liberties like the 4^th amendment to protect people from unreasonable search warrants, support the need for criminal justice reform like expand drug treatment programs to help non violent drug offenders get treatment, and continue to support programs to help victims of domestic violence or victims of crime get help from law enforcement resources. Besides your judicial career, I am very grateful on how are very active in the Asian American community by advocating for the need for funds to help Asian American communities get the care they need, expressing the need for more Asian Americans to enter in the legal system career, supporting Asian Americans including Asian Americans with disabilities’ rights, and advocating for the need for more educational awareness about Asian American culture.  

U.S. District Judge Chen, I have autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different advance subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased.  Your commitment to be a strong supporter of Civil Rights, combat against hate-crime, and advocate for people with disabilities’ rights really inspires me to work hard on my disability. Also being an Asian American with autism is a hard struggle for me due to some Asians including some Asian Americans tease me along with get judgmental about me having disability and not fitting in with their culture.  Your role in advocating for Asian Americans with disabilities’ rights and helping the Asian American community gives me motivation to continue to be confident about being an Asian American when I have struggles and to be interested in Asian American history along with culture.  Also your role Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement for the New York State Division of Human Rights, and as U.S. District Judge motivates me to continue my strong interest in learning history and social justice.  My future goal is to someday work in these areas to help emphasize the need to make Civil Rights stronger,  improve social justice, and many others.

I strongly believe that you made a great difference in the judicial system. Also I’m very proud on how you are working hard to help the Asian American community and advocate for Civil Rights including criminal justice reform in the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of New York. You have inspired me to continue to work hard on my disability, be confident about being an Asian American when I have struggles, and have motivation to continue to learn different subjects.  I hope you enjoy my letter. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great difference in the judicial system including the Asian American community.  I was wondering if you could please share some advice about working hard on my disability and explain your achievements in your judicial career.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick