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UC Davis students seek posthumous law license for Chinese immigrant
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May 6, 2014
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UC Davis students seek posthumous law license for Chinese immigrant
In 1890, the California Supreme Court denied Hong Yen Chang’s application to practice law because he was Chinese.
UC Davis School of Law
UC Davis School of Law
(
Flickr/Sonny Lazzeri
)

In 1890, the California Supreme Court denied Hong Yen Chang’s application to practice law because he was Chinese.

A group of law students in Northern California are pushing to get a law license for a Chinese immigrant even though he's been dead for quite some time. In 1890, the state Supreme Court denied Hong Yen Chang’s application to practice law because he was Chinese.

It's a 124-year-old California Supreme Court decision that continues to be studied in law schools today. For more on this we're joined by Gabriel Chin, professor at UC Davis School of Law.