Asian Law Caucus Letter In Support

September 19, 2003

The Honorable Timothy J. Lawliss
Clinton County Government Center
137 Margaret Street, Suite 311
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

RE: People v. David Wong

Dear Judge Lawliss:

I write on behalf of the Asian Law Caucus regarding Mr. David Wong's case. Founded in 1972, the Asian Law Caucus is the nation's oldest legal and civil rights organization serving the low-income Asian Pacific American communities.

We have taken a particular interest in Mr. Wong's case because he was victimized by a variety of social, economic, political, and racial inequalities evidenced during his trial: Mr. Wong relied on a public defender who failed to provide effective assistance of counsel because he could not afford an attorney of his choosing and was not provided an interpreter who spoke his native dialect. As a direct result of these obstacles, he did not have a meaningful opportunity to participate in his legal defense.

We are pleased that your honor has conducted an evidentiary hearing in this case and contact you to urge you to consider carefully the new evidence that tends to prove that Mr. Wong is innocent of the second-degree murder charge for the death of Tyrone Julius. As recounted in the recent legal submissions and court proceedings, the prosecution witness who had the clearest view of the murder has admitted that he not only lied at Mr. Wong's trial, but never saw the individual who committed the murder. In addition, several witnesses of different races and ethnicities identified another individual as the person who committed the murder, provided consistent details about the happenings on the day of the murder, and testimony that another individual had confessed to committing the murder.

The Asian Pacific American community is watching this case carefully, and it is our hope that a just verdict for Mr. Wong will renew our community's faith in the criminal justice system.

Very truly yours,

Philip Y. Ting
Executive Director