Bill Lann Lee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Lee
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| Assistant United States Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division | |||||||||||
| In office December 15, 1997 – January 20, 2001 Acting: December 15, 1997 – August 4, 2000 |
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| President | Bill Clinton | ||||||||||
| Preceded by | Deval Patrick | ||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ralph Boyd | ||||||||||
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| Born | February 5, 1949 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||
| Spouse | Carolyn Yee | ||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||
| Education | Yale University (BA) Columbia University (JD) |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 李亮畴 | ||||||||||
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Bill Lann Lee was born on February 5, 1949. He is an American lawyer who has spent his career fighting for civil rights. He worked for the U.S. government as the Assistant United States Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. This important role helps make sure everyone has fair and equal treatment under the law. He served under President Bill Clinton.
Early Life and School
Bill Lann Lee was born in New York City. His parents were immigrants from China. His father, William, had only a sixth-grade education. He found a way to enter the U.S. by traveling through Canada. This was because of a law called the Chinese Exclusion Act. His father owned a laundromat in Manhattan. He also joined the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Even so, he faced unfair treatment and racism.
Bill Lee went to the Bronx High School of Science. He then earned a scholarship to Yale University. At Yale, he studied history and graduated with high honors in 1971. Later, in 1974, he earned his law degree from Columbia Law School. He was a top student there too.
Working for Civil Rights
While he was still a law student, Bill Lee worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF). This organization helps protect the rights of people. After law school, he continued working as a civil rights attorney for the LDF until 1982. He also helped the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he worked on civil rights lawsuits. He then returned to the Legal Defense Fund. He led their office in the Western U.S.
In 1997, President Bill Clinton chose Bill Lee for a very important job. He was nominated to be the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Justice. This job is the highest civil rights position in the country. His nomination faced some challenges, but President Clinton appointed him to serve in an acting role. He officially served in this role until January 2001.
After leaving the government, Bill Lee became a visiting scholar at Columbia Law School. He also wrote a report about human rights around the world.
In 2001, Bill Lee joined a law firm called Lieff Cabraser. He led their human rights work. Later, in 2006, he became a partner at another law firm in Oakland, California.
He continued his work for civil rights. He led a group that gathered information to help extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law helps protect people's right to vote. He also leads the board of Advancement Project. This group works for civil rights in California.
Awards and Recognition
Bill Lee has worked on many important cases. He has written legal papers for the U.S. Supreme Court. He has also argued cases in front of many U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal. He is a member of several legal groups, like the American Bar Association.
He has received many awards for his work in civil rights law. These include:
- The Thurgood Marshall Medal of Justice (1998)
- The Trailblazer Award (1999)
- The John Randolph Distinguished Service Award (2001)
He has also received special honorary law degrees from several universities.
Family Life
Bill Lee is married to Carolyn Yee. They have three children. One of their children, Nick Lee, works for the Organization of Chinese Americans. Bill Lee lives in Berkeley, California.
