Our History
The Missouri Asian American Bar Association (MAABA) was officially formed in October 2001, but the idea of forming an Asian bar association in Missouri had been kicked around by some of the original members of the organization for some years prior. The association’s first president, Diane Yu (now residing in New York City), was also a founding member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). She was instrumental in gathering many of us to the first organizational meeting. As a newcomer to St. Louis and a seasoned bar leader, Diane was instrumental in garnering support and membership for MAABA from other bar organizations, locally and statewide.
Our Founding Members include: Ari Bai, Keith Cheung, Hon. Judy Draper,Tony Gao, Linda Ji, Hee Jun “Jay” Kim, Priscilla Lim, Edgar Lim, Maylin Mahoney, Justin Meehan, James Robinson, Ignatius Yuan, and Diane Yu.
Enriching the Legal Community
MAABA is extremely serious about mentoring and providing role models and discusses the development of relevant activities at its regular meetings. MAABA has a monthly newsletter, and holds monthly dinners and other activities that allow interested participants to meet each other. MAABA also seeks opportunities to network with other minority bar associations.
MAABA is an affiliate of NAPABA, which is in its seventeenth year of existence and represents over 45,000 attorneys in 47 local Asian Pacific bar associations.
MAABA PRESIDENTS
2000-2001 – Diane Yu
2001-2003 – Hon. Judy Draper
2003-2004 – Maylin Wong Mahoney
2004-2006 – Ari Bai
2006-2008 – Angela S. Yee
2008-2009 – Daniel Sakaguchi
2009-2010 – Julie Madsen
2010-2011 – Alexander Lee
2011-2012 – Johnny Wang
2012-2013 – James Robinson
2013-2014 – John Mark Hong
2014-2015 – Carol Li
2015-2017 – Richard Juang
2017-Present- Jessica Courtway