Asian-American judge speaks

Saying that she wants to "empower you to run for public office," Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Ida Chen spoke last week in the High Rise East rooftop lounge about her career as an Asian-American woman in the Philadelphia judicial system. Chen, who said she is the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Court of Common Pleas, stressed throughout her hour-long speech that she strives to set herself apart from politics and to never bend her principles. Chen was nominated by the Governor of Pennsylvania in 1987 to fill an interim position. In 1989, Chen won her election bid for a 10-year-seat on the court. Before being nominated to the court, Chen served from 1976 to 1986 as a trial lawyer for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, from 1986 to 1988 as a commissioner on Philadelphia's Commission on Human Relations. Since 1983, Chen has taught a course at Temple University Law School entitled "Women and the Law." Chen said she began her campaign with three goals: to form a grass-roots organization, to develop a human relations approach to reach different minorities and to empower the political newcomers who worked on her campaign. Chen said that she was surprised to discover how much money it took to run her campaign. She raised $61,900 by holding several fundraisers in Philadelphia, and one as far away as Albany, New York, she said. Chen said she ran an effective campaign and received endorsements from a wide range of organizations and politicans in the city, including then-Mayor Wilson Goode, and then-District Attorney Ron Castille. She said she was also endorsed by various minority groups and that the three that meant the most to her were the Hispanic Bar Association of Philadelphia, the Political Congress of Black Women of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Gay News. Chen concluded by saying that she did not run her campaign as a female or as an Asian candidate, but focused on her merits and the fact that she was a beginner to the political process. During her campaign for her seat, Chen said, she was asked if she is a leader. Chen said she replied that she was not a leader, but "a foot soldier going into battle." Many of the approximately 30 students who attended last week's speech praised Chen for her ability to inspire other Asian Americans. Wharton sophomore Richard Chow said Chen "was very charismatic and a wonderful role model." And College junior Winnie Lam also said she thinks Chen "is an excellent role model" and added that "she was extremely motivated." The speech was sponsored by East Asia House and Students for Asian-American Affairs.

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