HomeJapanese AmericanFormer JACL President and Utah pioneer judge Raymond Uno dies

Former JACL President and Utah pioneer judge Raymond Uno dies

Utah’s first minority judge has died at the age of 93.

Raymond Uno sat on the Salt Lake Court bench in 1976, the first person of color to ever serve as a judge in the entire state. He advanced to the 5th Circuit Court two years later before being elected to the District Court in 1984 and retiring in 1990, according to Deseret News.

Prior to becoming a judge, he worked as an Assistant Attorney General where his impact is still being felt today.

“I was a benefactor my entire career of his kindness and steadiness,” Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said to St. George News. “While his influence was felt most locally, it carried across America and beyond.”

Uno was born in 1938 in Ogden, Utah and spent three years of his childhood behind barbed wire at the Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp where his father died nine months into his imprisonment of a blood clot in his heart.

The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation says Uno served in the Korean War, was a leader in the fight for redress and fought for peace and human rights. He also served as national president of the Japanese American Citizens League from 1970 – 1972.

“Judge Raymond Uno was a pioneer and civil rights icon as the first ethnic minority judge in
Utah,” said Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair of the Foundation. “Although
he always had a smile on his face and a positive outlook, his personal history and what he faced
at Heart Mountain was challenging and difficult. He never let that traumatic experience define
who he was.”

After he served in the army, Uno attended the University of Utah where he earned a law degree. He is survived by his wife Yoshiko, five sons and six grandchildren.

AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.

Thank you for all those who contributed to our Lunar New Year fundraiser. We exceeded our $5,000 matching grant challenge by 121%! We couldn’t do this without you.  It’s never too late to donate.  You can make your tax-deductible donations here via credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo. Stock donations and donations via DAFs are also welcomed.

Please also follow us on InstagramTikTok, FacebookYouTube and X.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Donate to AsAmNews. Happy Lunar New Year

Latest

Anti-Asian Hate

Must Read

Immigration

Health

Donate to AsAmNews. Happy Lunar New Year

Latest

Discover more from AsAmNews

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading