Judge William M. Marutani Fellowship
Congratulations to our 2025 Marutani Fellows!
The Honorable William M. Marutani Fellowship provides financial support to law students who secure summer internships with nonprofit public interest organizations or government entities, including courts, across Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia area. Established by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania in partnership with the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, the fellowship honors Judge Marutani’s legacy as Pennsylvania’s first Asian American judge and a lifelong advocate for civil rights. By easing financial barriers, the fellowship supports students committed to public service, equity, and advancing access to justice for underserved communities.
Applications will open early 2026.
About the Honorable William M. Marutani
The Honorable William M. Marutani made history as the first Asian American outside the Pacific Coast to serve as a judge on a court of general jurisdiction. Appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in 1975 and later elected to a full ten-year term, Judge Marutani served until 1986.
One of his most notable rulings came in 1983, when he ordered Philadelphia’s all-boys Central High School to admit female students, advancing educational equity across the city.
Judge Marutani’s life reflected deep courage and service. As a second-generation Japanese American, he and his family were detained in a U.S. internment camp for six months during World War II. After his release, he joined the U.S. Military Intelligence Service, continuing to serve his country despite the injustice he endured.
As a lawyer, Judge Marutani worked tirelessly for civil rights. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington on behalf of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and served as the League’s national legal counsel from 1960 to 1970. He represented the JACL in Loving v. Virginia (1967) before the U.S. Supreme Court—the landmark case that ended laws banning interracial marriage in 17 states.
In 1981, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, which later concluded that the internment of Japanese Americans was the unjust result of racism and wartime hysteria.
Until his passing in 2004, Judge Marutani remained active in civic life, serving on numerous community boards and advocating for equality, justice, and reconciliation. His legacy continues to inspire future generations committed to civil rights and equal justice for all.