Judge Sanket Bulsara speaks at DA’s Asian Pacific American celebration

May 31, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Federal court judge Sanket Bulsara (right) was the keynote speaker at District Attorney Eric Gonzalez’s 2018 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration where two others were honored. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

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The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office held its annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month event at Brooklyn Law School on Thursday, May 24, where federal court Judge Sanket Bulsara was the keynote speaker and two community members were honored.

Rosita Chan, the president of the Brooklyn Community Improvement Association, and Capt. Nelson Chan, executive officer of the 62nd Precinct in Bensonhurst, were given the Community Service Award and the Outstanding Law Enforcement Award, respectively.

“Our honorees have each dedicated themselves to building a better Brooklyn and a better world by serving the public,” said assistant DA Albert Suh, who served as co-master of ceremonies alongside ADA Sonia Dave. “They have demonstrated excellence, perseverance and wisdom in each of their capacities.”

In his own remarks, Gonzalez talked about the time he entered the DA’s Office and compared it today by noting that it has made great strides in its representation not only of Hispanic-Americans, but of Asian-Americans as well.

“When I started in the office I was one of the only Hispanic prosecutors and I cannot think of an Asian supervisor in the office at that time,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve come a long way in the Brooklyn DA’s Office in making sure that everyone is reflected, not only as assistants, but in supervisory roles. We’re going to continue to do more.”

Gonzalez explained that diversity in the office is important because it helps to improve public safety when people have faith in the prosecutor’s office.

“Keeping Brooklyn safe and creating trust in our office are the goals of the DA’s Office,” Gonzalez said.

Judge Bulsara, who serves as a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Downtown Brooklyn, talked about the hardships his parents faced when they immigrated to the United States from India more than 45 years ago. It was their persistence, he said, that helped to lay the groundwork for him becoming a judge.

However, Judge Bulsara was quick to point out that even though Asian-Americans have come a long way in the United States and in Brooklyn, that the youth is desperate for mentors. Judge Bulsara explained that despite rates of educational achievement higher than other minority groups, 25 Asian-Americans living in NYC subsist below the poverty line.

“I think it’s in part that Asian-American people are desperate for mentors, for people to guide them in their careers, to assist them once they graduate high school and after they graduate college,” Judge Bulsara said. “Since I’ve taken the bench, I’m inundated with requests for coffee, tea, information, guidance and I’m happy to help as best as I am able. All of these young people will benefit from your wisdom and your guidance.”

As part of the ceremony, singer Kyunghee Kim delighted the crowd with an operatic musical selection that inspired a standing ovation. Paul Jang, a recent Brooklyn Law School graduate, also had an opportunity to address the crowd.