The First Fifteen

"The history and stories captured by Susan Oki Mollway not only preserve an important history of Asian American women in the federal judiciary, but also hopefully encourage more Asian American and other women to put themselves forward for nomination by demystifying the process. The book explores the fascinating back stories of these amazing women beyond their official bios."

~Karen K. Narasaki, civil and human rights leader and former Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

“At a time when the importance of having federal judges with diverse life experiences and perspectives never has been more apparent, Susan Oki Mollway’s accounting of the paths followed by our nation’s first fifteen Asian American and Pacific Islander women judges is especially illuminating. In granular detail, it describes the attributes, talents and circumstances that enabled each of its subjects to overcome barriers and become a leader in the federal judiciary.”   

~Hon. Jeremy Fogel (ret), Executive Director, Berkeley Judicial Institute, Berkeley Law School and Former Director, Federal Judicial Center

“The First Fifteen shares the powerful narratives of the first Asian American women to become Article III judges, with a focus on their pathways to the federal bench. Through meticulous and thoughtful analysis, Susan Oki Mollway goes far beyond biography to also suggest common background and character traits, reflect on diversity in the judiciary, and recognize the external forces that contributed to their success. The First Fifteen should be required reading for everyone interested in federal courts, issues of diversity, gender studies, and Asian Americans.”

~Meera Deo, Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School, and author of Unequal Profession: Race and Gender in Legal Academia

"Interview: Judge Susan Oki Mollway (’20) on her Duke Law thesis becoming a book"

~Duke Law: Bolch Judicial Institute