Last spring, a Los Angeles landmark was named in honor of the late Judge Delbert E. Wong, Stanford Law School’s first Asian-American student. Along with serving as a remembrance of Judge Wong, the square, located at the intersection of Ord and North Hill streets, marks the first time that the City of Los Angeles has recognized a Chinese- American with an official landmark. The effort to celebrate Wong through this landmark was led by a group of volunteers who admired the influential judge and community leader and was supported by many key organizations in L.A.’s Chinatown community.

Before pursuing a law degree, Wong was a decorated pilot, who served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was the recipient of a Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. Following military service, Wong set his sights on law. After graduating from Stanford Law School, he built his career in government, serving first as a deputy legislative counsel and then as a deputy state attorney general. By 1959, his public service was recognized by then-Governor Pat Brown, who appointed Wong to the Los Angeles County Municipal Court, making him the first Chinese-American judge in the continental United States. Judge Wong later served in the Los Angeles County Superior Court for more than two decades.