2017 Marutani Fellows

Nick Kato, Temple University’s Beasley School of Law – Class of 2019

Nick is a rising 2L and Beasley Scholar at the Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. Prior to law school, Nick worked as an investigator for the Defender Association in Seattle, where he investigated criminal cases on behalf of people who could not afford counsel. Nick moved to Philadelphia to work for the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, where he investigated cases on behalf of wrongfully convicted prisoners. During his 1L summer, Nick interned for Judge Thomas Ambro on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. At law school, Nick is a staff editor for the Temple Law Review and the co-chair of the Expungement Project.

Diane J. Kim, Temple University’s Beasley School of Law – Class of 2019

Diane, a second year at Temple University Beasley School of Law, interned this summer at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for the Hon. Jean K. FitzSimon. Diane is currently the President of Temple’s Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, a Law Clerk for Chubb Limited’s In-House Counsel, and a Board Member for Research for Action. Diane previously worked in education policy, through Philadelphia’s City Council and The School District of Philadelphia, and advocated for the needs of the English Language Learning, immigrant, and refugee student population. In addition, Diane worked for Asian Arts Initiative’s Chinatown North neighborhood redevelopment project through the visual and performance arts. Diane is committed to servicing Philadelphia’s AAPI community and hopes to provide legal resources and services to the limited English proficient AAPI adults and students.

Brandon Wong, University of Pennsylvania Law School – Class of 2019

Brandon is a second-year law student at the University of Pennsylvania. Before coming to Penn, Brandon completed his Bachelors degree in Political Science and a minor in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. While there, he received the University’s Matsui Local Government and Matsui Washington Fellowships for demonstrated interest in effective governance. He graduated with Highest Distinction in General Scholarship. After graduating, Brandon worked for the Association of California Cities—Orange County (ACC-OC), a non-profit organization dedicated to retaining local control of public policymaking, as a Policy Analyst on the issue of homelessness. While at Penn, Brandon has completed pro bono projects for the Military Assistance Project and the City of Philadelphia Law Department. During the summer between his first and second year of law school, Brandon served as a judicial intern with the Honorable Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr. in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Brandon hopes to pursue a legal career in the areas of campaign finance and election law in Washington, D.C.