John Nho Trong Nguyen
Biography
Judge John Nho Trong Nguyen’s rise from a refugee to becoming the first Vietnamese American Judge on the Superior Court serves as an inspiration for many in the possibilities that the United States and, in particular, a legal education provide. Before coming to the United States in 1975, Judge Nho Trong Nguyen was one of the most prominent members of Congress in Vietnam and an Associate Justice on the Special Supreme Court of South Vietnam. As a congressman, he championed social and economic justice for the poor including the redistribution of land to farmers which was strongly supported by the US government to combat the communist propaganda. His work was featured in international documentary films, magazines and broadcast on major networks during the Vietnam War.
Nguyen began his new life in the United States as a handyman’s helper. Never giving up on his dreams, he went to school at night and earned his M.B.A. from California Polytechnic University in Pomona in 1981 and a Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law in 1988. In 1995, California Attorney General Dan Lungren hired Nguyen as Deputy Attorney General to prosecute people who committed fraud against innocent citizens and consumers.
Since his appointment to the bench in 2000, Judge Nguyen has served as a trial judge at the Orange County West Justice Center (WJC) handling a criminal trial calendar, presiding over serious felony and misdemeanor cases, including three strike cases. He began his judicial career at WJC with a six month civil trial calendar where he instituted for the first time the posting of tentative rulings on law and motion matters on the internet and on the front door of his courtroom. Jurors and counsel often praise him in open court for his thoroughness, fairness and being faithful to the law.
Judge Nguyen’s colleagues also recognize his steadfast commitment to ensuring integrity in the courtroom. In 2002, Judge Nguyen was elected by his peers as President of the California Asian American Judges Association. Judge Nguyen served as Secretary of the National Asian American Judges Association in 2005. The Board of Governors of the California State Bar recently appointed him Commissioner of the prestigious Commission on Access to Justice which serves to enhance the dispensation of justice in our court system.
Judge Nguyen has taught at Chapman University School of Law, Whittier College of Law and Western State University College of Law as an adjunct professor on International Law, Human Rights Law and Trial Practice. He is a frequent lecturer at local Bar functions, giving MCLE lectures on Search and Seizure, Ethics, and Trial Techniques.
Judge Nguyen’s many prestigious honors include the National Pacific American Bar Association’s “Trail Blazer Award,” the West Orange County Bar Association’s “Patrick McCray Judge of the Year” and induction into Western State University’s Hall of Fame.
Federal Judge David O’Carter stated that Judge Nguyen “epitomizes the American dream.” Appellate Justice Eileen C. Moore praised Judge Nguyen in the Los Angeles Daily Journal noting that he is “a quintessential American.”