State Rep. Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) and the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) will be honoring Judge Maria Araujo Kahn and the Portuguese Bar Association of Connecticut during the annual Day of Portugal ceremony at the State Capitol on Thursday, June 5, 2014.
“I’m proud we’re able to recognize Judge Kahn and the Portuguese Bar Association for their commitment to the legal profession in the State of Connecticut and for their advocacy,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “Through dedication and hard work, including their work to protect every citizens’ legal rights and access to the legal system, these honorees have made Connecticut a better place to live, work and raise a family and are very deserving of this recognition.”
“I’m proud of the achievements of Judge Kahn, she’s the perfect example of Portuguese-American success and her dedication to the Portuguese-American community carries over to her hard work on behalf of all of Connecticut’s residents,” Fernando G. Rosa, Chairman of PALCUS said.
The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with a mission of addressing domestic and international concerns of the Portuguese-American community. PALCUS has conducted an expanding program of research, educational and public affairs activities on salient issues of interest to the Portuguese-American community and the Luso-American relationship. PALCUS is committed to serving the community through increasingly active government relations efforts, the promotion of a greater awareness of ethnic accomplishments and encouraging stronger ties between Portugal and the United States.
This year’s event will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the North Lobby of the State Capitol building located at 300 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature Portuguese food and dance performances by the Rancho Folclorico do Clube Portugues de Hartford.
The Honorable Maria Araujo Kahn is currently assigned to the Fairfield Judicial District in Bridgeport where she hears criminal matters. Prior to her appointment to the Superior Court in 2006, she was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Haven. As a federal prosecutor, Judge Kahn was responsible for complex white collar investigations and prosecutions, both civil and criminal, in the areas of health care fraud, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud and trade secrets.
Judge Kahn was born and raised in Angola, Africa. She emigrated to the United States at the age of ten and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. She is a graduate of New York University and received her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 1989. Following law school, she served as law clerk to the Honorable Peter C. Dorsey, United States District Court Judge for the District of Connecticut. Judge Kahn is the first female judge of Portuguese descent in the State of Connecticut.
The Portuguese Bar Association of Connecticut, Inc. serves the public interest by cultivating the science of jurisprudence, promoting reform in the law, facilitating the administration of justice and fostering respect of the law among Portuguese. The group also works to advance the standing of the legal profession, preserving high standards of integrity, honor and professional courtesy among Portuguese lawyers, establishing a close relationship among Portuguese lawyers, and cooperating with other Bar associations, other legal organizations and other Portuguese organizations, locally, nationally and internationally.
The State Capitol reception was initiated in 2009 and since then the following individuals and groups have been recognized:
2013 – Our Lady of Fatima Portuguese School, Sport Club Jose Saramago School, Vasco de Gama Center School, Manuel Cipriano School at Immaculate Conception Church
2012 – The Portuguese Media – Radio Program Amplitude, Radio Program Cultura e Vida, TV Portugal Raizes, Radio Station WFAR and Jornal Luso Americano
2011 – Armando Goncalves, Carlos Batista, Gracinda Lavado
2010 – Band Sons of Portugal (Danbury) and Portuguese Foundation
2009 – Dr. Adriano Seabra Veiga, MD, Attorney Americo Ventura and Professor Dr. Antonio A.Cirurgiao
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