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State's Attorney Alvarez Honors Two Local Judges in
Celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and her Asian Pacific Advisory Council presented
achievement awards to two local judges for their contributions to the legal field as well as their community involvement at an annual ceremony celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. 

Alvarez presented the awards to Judge Lynne Kawamoto, an Associate Judge in Cook County’s Probate Division as well as the Honorable Young Kim, Administrative Judge for the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

Judge Kawamoto was the first Asian Pacific American appointed to sit as a state court judge in 1991.  She began her law career as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and was the first female trial attorney in the office’s Gang Crimes Unit.
She is a founding member of the Asian American Bar Association and has championed diversity and juvenile issues throughout her legal career.

Administrative Judge Kim, born in South Korea, moved to the United States in 1977 and began his law career as a Cook County Public Defender, working his way up to the federal level as a prosecutor.  In 2001, he was appointed as an Administrative Judge, making him the first Korean American Judge at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  Judge Kim is a founding member of the Korean American Bar Association and frequently mentors aspiring attorneys.

“Both of these individuals are trailblazers whose hard work and sense of pride and determination have paved the way for many young lawyers in their community.  It is important to recognize positive role models who go above and beyond public service to make a difference in our communities”, said Alvarez.

Alvarez presented the awards during a ceremony on Wednesday, May 13 at the Chinese American Service League.