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Chin (Ming W.) Papers
MSS 2001  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
The Ming W. Chin Papers consist of materials created or gathered by Justice Chin and removed from his chambers in August 2020, after he announced him retirement from the California Supreme Court. The bulk of the materials are dated between 1985 and 2020, and document Justice Chin's legal career, beginning with his work as an attorney at the firm Aiken, Kramer & Cummings and continuing until his retirement from the California Supreme Court. The largest series of materials comprise opinions (1990-2001) and speeches (1994-2020), reflecting Justice Chin's service on the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, and the California Supreme Court, as well as his commitment to the broader legal community and engagement with issues like diversity, technology, judicial independence, and the intersection of bioscience and law. The collection also includes certificates, awards, and ephemera (1984-2020) honoring Justice Chin's career and achievements, and photographs (circa 1950-2019), mostly born-digital, of Justice Chin with his family, staff, and prominent legal and political figures. Californians for Justice Chin files (1997-1999) document the financial and public relations activities of Justice Chin's successful retention election campaign, which was led by political consultant Ken Khachigian.
Background
The Honorable Ming William Chin was appointed to the Supreme Court of California by Governor Pete Wilson on January 25, 1996, and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on March 1, 1996. He is the first Chinese American to have been appointed to the state's highest court. During his 24-year tenure, Justice Chin authored more than 350 majority opinions, writing landmark decisions in cases involving DNA evidence, domestic violence, expert witnesses, toxic tort insurance, surrogate parents, and hate crimes. In 1998, Justice Chin won a retention election after facing opposition by anti-abortion groups. He was retained by the voters again in 2010. He retired from the state Supreme Court on August 31, 2020.
Extent
15 linear feet (9 records storage cartons, 2 legal document boxes, 2 map drawers, 112 electronic files)
Restrictions
Copyright for materials in this collection, created by Ming W. Chin, was not transferred to the California Judicial Center Library. Permission for reproduction or publication of materials in this collection beyond that allowed by fair use must be secured from the copyright holder. Copyright will be transferred to the California Judicial Center Library on September 30, 2045.
Availability
Collection is open for research upon approval of written request. Requests should be submitted to: California Judicial Center Library, Special Collections and Archives, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Room 4617, San Francisco, CA, 94102-7013, or by e-mail to archives@jud.ca.gov. All researchers must sign the California Judicial Center Library Special Collections Access Agreement form. This agreement can be sent electronically by request. Records in the collection may contain confidential information, as defined in the Access Agreement. Publication or disclosure of such information is strictly prohibited.