Judge Myong J. Joun currently serves as a United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts, a position he has held since his confirmation by the United States Senate on July 12, 2023. He is the first Asian American man to serve on the federal bench in Massachusetts and the first Korean American to serve on the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1971, Judge Joun immigrated to the United States as a child and went on to build a distinguished legal career grounded in service and dedication. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1994 and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1999, and he honorably served six years in the Massachusetts National Guard.

Prior to his appointment to the federal bench, Judge Joun spent fifteen years in private practice in Massachusetts, where he devoted his career to civil rights and criminal defense litigation, with particular focus on cases involving police misconduct, discrimination, and the protection of low-income individuals' rights. In 2014, he was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court, a role in which he presided over approximately 140 trials before his elevation to the federal judiciary. From 2003 to 2005, he served as President of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts, and he remains an active and committed mentor to students and young lawyers throughout New England. It is our distinct honor to welcome Judge Joun as the keynote speaker for KABA's Inaugural Celebration.