Michael Yaki
Encyclopedia
Michael Yaki is a San Francisco attorney currently serving as a commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights
, succeeding Christopher Edley, Jr.
in February 2005. Yaki graduated from UC Berkeley in 1983, and then from Yale Law School in 1986. He clerked for Judge Harry Low, the first Chinese-American appointed to the California Court of Appeal, from 1986 to 1987. After a brief stint with the law firm of Morrison & Foerster, Yaki was appointed in 1989 by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
(D-San Francisco) to be her District Director and as a senior advisor. Yaki was also a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
, serving from his appointment by then-mayor Willie Brown
in February 1996. He ran for election and won in November 1996, and served until his election defeat in 2000.
As a member of the Commission, Yaki is the frequent voice of dissent on the Commission, which has four members appointed by then-President George W. Bush, and four members appointed by Congress split equally between Democrats and Republicans.
United States Commission on Civil Rights
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is historically a bipartisan, independent commission of the U.S. federal government charged with the responsibility for investigating, reporting on, and making recommendations concerning civil rights issues that face the nation.-Commissioners:The Commission is...
, succeeding Christopher Edley, Jr.
Christopher Edley, Jr.
Christopher Fairchild Edley, Jr. is Dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law . After receiving his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College, he attended Harvard Law School, where he later served as a professor. He is married to Maria Echaveste, former deputy chief of staff...
in February 2005. Yaki graduated from UC Berkeley in 1983, and then from Yale Law School in 1986. He clerked for Judge Harry Low, the first Chinese-American appointed to the California Court of Appeal, from 1986 to 1987. After a brief stint with the law firm of Morrison & Foerster, Yaki was appointed in 1989 by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
(D-San Francisco) to be her District Director and as a senior advisor. Yaki was also a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
, serving from his appointment by then-mayor Willie Brown
Willie Brown (politician)
Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its Speaker, and afterward served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first African American to do so...
in February 1996. He ran for election and won in November 1996, and served until his election defeat in 2000.
As a member of the Commission, Yaki is the frequent voice of dissent on the Commission, which has four members appointed by then-President George W. Bush, and four members appointed by Congress split equally between Democrats and Republicans.