[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 130 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE FRANK W. CHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 13, 2024

  Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the 
life of the Honorable Frank W. Chen, who passed away on July 18, 2024. 
Judge Chen formerly served as a commissioner for the Los Angeles County 
Superior Court in California.
  Frank was born in Taipei, Taiwan on November 11, 1963, to his parents 
William and May Chen. Frank moved to the United States at the age of 4 
where he settled in Schenectady, New York and graduated from Mohonasen 
Senior High School. Following his graduation, Frank attended Stanford 
University and graduated in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in economics. 
He went on to graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles 
School of Law in 1988 and started his career as a litigation attorney 
in Los Angeles that same year after being admitted to the California 
State Bar.
  Frank met Chen-Yen in December of 1999 and in September 2000, they 
got married and moved to San Marino, CA. They welcomed their first 
child, Nathaniel Chen in 2003 and then second child, Natalina Chen in 
2005. Anyone who knew Frank knew that his family meant more to him than 
anything else. He worked tirelessly to support his family first and 
foremost and to ensure that they could also pursue their passions to 
the fullest.
  Frank is well-known for his pro bono legal work in combating abusive 
litigation. He received awards for his volunteer work with state and 
local prosecutors, local elected officials, legislators, and the State 
Bar of California. In 2003, Frank was named a recipient of California 
Lawyer Magazine's Attorney of the Year (CLAY). That same year, Frank 
was a recipient of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern 
California's Pro Bono Service Award for his work in coordinating a 
unique and sweeping defense to abusive litigation brought by the Trevor 
Law Group of Beverly Hills.
  Since 2005, Frank has been recognized eleven times as a Southern 
California Super Lawyer and three times in the National Super Lawyers 
Business Edition. He was also named one of Pasadena Magazine's Top 
Attorneys from 2010-2018. Frank first became interested in judicial 
service while working as a volunteer Temporary Judge for the Los 
Angeles County Superior Court beginning in 2005 where he presided over 
small claims. In December 2018, Frank was elected by the judges of the 
Los Angeles Superior Court to become the Los Angeles Superior Court's 
Court Commissioner. Frank became the Los Angeles Superior Court's third 
Taiwanese-born judicial officer and was the fifth nationwide.
  Frank was also a well-respected leader in his community. He was a 
former president of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association 
(SCCLA) and the Taiwanese American Lawyers Association (TALA). He 
served as a trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) 
and as a board member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of 
Los Angeles County (APABA). Frank was also a proud blood donor to local 
American Red Cross blood banks. He also was a supporter of many online 
musicians within the Twitch music community and greeted audiences for 
the past three years as a moderator, fan and friend. Frank was also a 
faithful member of San Marino Community Church where he served as an 
Elder and recently joined the Chancel Choir with his wife.
  He is survived by many loving family members, including his wife 
Chun-Yen, son Nathaniel, daughter Natalina, parents William and May 
Chen, brother Henry Chen and sister-in-law Julie, and nephew Matthew 
and niece Natalie. May his memory serve as an inspiration to all who 
knew him.

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