Alice Tam Tien’s Journey

From Fleeing Oppression to Running for Civil Court Judge

By Raymond Cline

When she was just three years old Alice Tam Tien arrived in New York City with her parents. The family’s journey of fleeing the oppression of China to Hong Kong and finally reaching the United States had been long and arduous. They settled in Chinatown where her father found work as a cook in a restaurant and her mother worked as a seamstress.

Growing up as an immigrant was challenging. Alice was as a “latch key” child living in a tiny apartment. Her parents had to work long, grueling hours. In her overcrowded building, Alice saw firsthand the personal faces of domestic violence, housing insecurity and violent street gangs. She saw marginalization of her community. Since many of her neighbors were Chinese, she experienced their mistrust and fear of government. Dealing with the police and the courts was the most frightening. Language problems made it more difficult to access many available resources and options. This made Alice determined to find solutions to these and other problems confronting her neighbors and her entire city.

Her educational path was impressive. After attending our city’s public schools, she went on to Cornell University and the University at Buffalo School of Law. After graduation, she felt the call of public service remembering the people she met growing up.

Alice worked in the District Attorney’s office, gaining experience in dealing with domestic violence. One case that deeply affected her was a woman who had been beaten by her husband. After several calls to the police, her spouse was arrested. As all too often happens, at first the woman would not cooperate with the prosecution. Alice gently reminded the victim that getting justice was the best way to protect herself and her children. Helping this woman stand up for her rights and safeguard her children reaffirmed to Alice why she had chosen to stand up and help people. This case and others compelled her to consider becoming a judge.

Alice wanted to gain as much experience as she could, so she became an attorney in Housing Court. She worked with many people who couldn’t afford a lawyer or their apartment. Another case that was especially meaningful to her was a guardianship proceeding. She remembered one case that was brought before her. Adult Protective Agency was trying to help a mentally challenged person. The mother, who had been the primary care giver of this person, had passed away and the person was unable to care for themself both financially and physically. Since no rent was being paid, the landlord had commenced an eviction proceeding. At the end of the day the tenant’s daughter was able to keep the apartment and have the best quality life she could have.

Over the last 17 years, Alice has built the skillset and garnered the knowledge needed to become a judge. She clerked for several judges in both Civil and Supreme Courts. She gained invaluable judicial and procedural experience. While working, she raised three children and discovered that having children brings a focus on fairness as well as consideration of what decisions made today mean for the future. When her youngest child entered high school, Alice realized it was time for her to take the next step.

To Alice Tam Tien, becoming a judge is not a job but a calling. In helping others obtain fair and equitable treatment, she will also be continuing her own journey.