2020 Marutani Fellows Selected

APABA-PA and the Philadelphia Bar Foundation are excited to announce this year’s Judge William M. Marutani Fellows, Danielle Kwock Phillips and Cary Zhang.

The Judge William M. Marutani Fellowship provides a stipend to subsidize a summer internship position with a nonprofit public interest organization or with a federal, state, or municipal government entity in Pennsylvania or the Greater Philadelphia area. The Fellowship was established by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania (APABA-PA) in conjunction with the Bar Foundation.

Ms. Phillips is a third-year law student at Temple University's Beasley School of Law. Prior to law school, she worked as a public and academic librarian for eight years. Several years ago, she began studying the criminal justice system from a sociological and racial justice perspective and decided to become a public defender. Ms. Phillips attended California State University, Fresno, where she received a Bachelor’s of English and Simmons College, where she received a Master’s in Library & Information Science. She was named the 2020 Gideon’s Promise Law Clerk at Montgomery County Public Defender, an honor that allows her to participate in a national training program for future public defenders. This summer, Danielle will intern with the Montgomery County Public Defender.

Ms. Zhang is a third-year law student and Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple University Beasley School of Law. She received a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Gender Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. During her time at Temple, she interned for the Education Law Center, the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office, and in Washington D.C. at AEquitas. This summer, Ms. Zhang will intern at the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, focusing on the Domestic Violence Unit.

The Judge William M. Marutani Fellowship serves to honor the legacy of Judge Marutani, the first Asian-American judge in Pennsylvania, a distinguished member of the judiciary who served both the Asian American community and the community at large for many years. Judge Marutani’s exemplary career is a model for current students who are committed to public service.

Congratulations to both recipients, as well as the rest of this year’s qualified candidates who deserve recognition for their accomplishments and commitment to service.

If you would like to support this fellowship program, you can make a donation online. Please select the "Judge Marutani Fellowship" option.