Today, the United States Senate confirmed Boston Municipal Court Judge Myong J. Joun to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Judge Joun will be the first Korean American judge to serve on this court. 

“Judge Joun is an inspiration for those who have come to this country holding little more than the American Dream, and his perspective is underrepresented in the judiciary,” says Emily Sy, AALAM President. “AALAM is thrilled that Judge Joun is now a member of our esteemed federal bench and we congratulate him on this significant achievement.”

Judge Judge has served on the Boston Municipal Court since 2014 and is a past AALAM President, director, and long-time member. Throughout his career, Judge Joun has demonstrated a commitment to public service and access to justice. Judge Joun’s contributions to AALAM have left lasting impressions upon its members and he continues to serve as mentor. Stephen Chow, an AALAM member since the 1980s and a board member since 1996, says, “Judge Joun, in his leadership of AALAM and consideration of community and professional matters that came before it, was consistent in his attentiveness to and due respect for views from all backgrounds. Never loud or strident in his positions, Judge Joun shows the kind of quiet strength that commands confidence that his decisions judiciously apply established law to fairly considered evidence and arguments.” Judge Jason Chan, who was recently appointed to the Massachusetts bench, says, “Judge Joun was one of the first people that I reached out to when I was confirmed to the Massachusetts State District Court last summer. Since I began my legal career in 2007, Judge Joun has served as my inspiration and I would not be where I am today without his steady guidance and mentorship. When I joined the judiciary, he counseled me to be patient, thoughtful and thorough with my decisions and demeanor.” 

Judge Joun was also integral to the establishment of AALAM’s Community Service Committee and its Advocacy Committee. During his term as chair of the Advocacy Committee, AALAM joined the amici brief supporting the plaintiffs in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the Supreme Judicial Court case which legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. In addition to his work with AALAM, Judge Joun has held leadership positions with the Massachusetts Bar Association, the National Lawyers Guild, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. 

Judge Joun’s story reflects the aspirations of those who have immigrated to this country. Judge Joun’s mother immigrated to the United States with three small children and only $46 in her pocket. Growing up in New York City, Judge Joun’s future was far from assured. He attended Lane High School, which had at that time a fifty percent dropout rate and a reputation for being among the worst high schools in the country. Despite these challenges, Judge Joun went on to graduate from high school and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Boston and from Suffolk University Law School. While pursuing his degrees, Judge Joun served for six years in the United States Army as part of the Massachusetts National Guard.