Dale Minami

Dale Minami is a prominent American lawyer and activist who has played a key role in advocating for the civil rights of Asian Americans and other marginalized communities. He was born on October 13, 1946, in San Francisco, California.

Minami is best known for his work on the landmark Korematsu v. United States case, which challenged the constitutionality of Japanese American internment during World War II. He was part of the legal team that successfully overturned the conviction of Fred Korematsu, one of the Japanese Americans who had defied the government's internment order. The case was reopened in the 1980s after evidence emerged showing that the government had deliberately suppressed information that would have disproven the alleged military necessity of the internment.

In addition to his work on the Korematsu case, Minami has been involved in a number of other high-profile civil rights cases. He has represented plaintiffs in cases involving police brutality, employment discrimination, and voting rights, among other issues. He has also served on numerous boards and commissions focused on advancing civil rights, including the Asian Law Caucus and the Civil Rights Commission of the State of California.

Minami has received numerous awards and honors for his work as a civil rights lawyer and advocate. In 2015, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, for his contributions to the fight for civil rights and social justice. He has also been recognized with the Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association and the John Minor Wisdom Award from the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation.

In addition to his legal work, Minami has also been involved in a number of community organizations and initiatives focused on advancing social justice. He has served on the board of directors for organizations such as the Asian American Justice Center and the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation. He has also been involved in initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting the history of Japanese American internment, such as the Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education.