Paving the way for Asian Americans in the legal field, Tammy C. Ryu last month was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, making her the first female Korean-American judge in California.

Although Ryu has always had a strong attachment to the Korean-American community, she takes particular pride in being a role model for Korean-American women in law.

'I feel as though I have broken the glass ceiling for Korean-American attorneys, especially the women,' she said. 'We finally have a female Korean-American judge in California.'

But it's not just the Korean-American community that is applauding Gov. Gray Davis' appointment of Ryu; the broader Asian-American community has been just as supportive.

'The response from the Asian-American community has been incredible,' said Ryu. 'Many have come to congratulate me at various receptions held in my honor. Young Asian-American women have especially been responsive.'

Ryu's law career is a long and distinguished one. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, she has served on the board of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association and was the former president of the Korean Bar Association in Southern California.

Since her appointment, Ryu has been swamped by the mainstream and Korean media. To date, she has given interviews to newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Journal, a legal newspaper, as well as numerous radio and television stations. A one-hour segment on Ryu will be broadcast on NBC in November.

The media coverage has made Ryu a minor celebrity in Los Angeles, where she is now finding it difficult to run simple errands without being recognized.

'I went to get my hair cut the other day in Koreatown and another customer came up to me and congratulated me. All of the staff at the hair place knew who I was also,' Ryu said. 'I can't even go to restaurants in Koreatown - even if I really like their food!'

Although Ryu has lost some of her privacy, she's grateful to be paving the way for other Asian American women in the field. 'I feel incredibly fortunate and at times I still can't believe it,' she said.

(Photo courtesy of KoreAm Journal)