In This Issue:

• NAWJ President Judge Amy Nechtem's Message
• 2012 Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts - March 9-11th: Register and Reserve Your Room Today!
• Next Counterbalance Submission Deadline February 15, 2012
• NAWJ Support Continues for Standards for Language Access in Courts
• New York Times Article on the "Low Marks" Judges Give to Lawyers Representing Immigrants
• Women in Prison Committee is Focused for the New Year, Click Here and Here to Find out What's in Store
• Color of Justice Programs Proves Meaningful for Youth Across the Country
• Save the Date - 2012 Annual Conference in Miami, Florida, November 7-11, 2012
• NAWJ Member Hon. Morgan Christen Confirmed to U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• NAWJ Member Hon. Sharon Gleason Confirmed to U.S. District Court, District of Alaska
• Former NAWJ Executive Director Drucilla Stender Ramey Sounds Off on Post Feminism in the Legal Profession
• Rutgers Law School Due Process Television Program Features Newark Judges and Conference Speakers on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Women in the Law
• The International Academy for Judges Offers Summer Workshop in Haifa, July 15-August 3, 2012
• View Forster-Long's 2012 State Bench Gender Ratio Statistics from NAWJ's Homepage
• Governing Article on Judges Reforming Children and Family Services Departments, 2 of 3 Profiled are Women
• USA Today Article on the Alarming Juvenile Incarceration Rate

Welcome to 2012, and Happy New Year!

NAWJ is off to an exciting year as we extend our support and enhance our visibility at the American Bar Association's Midyear Meeting in New Orleans, Feb 2-6, when we proudly co-sponsor a resolution in support of the Standards for Language Access in the Courts; in addition, NAWJ will also co-sponsor, in name only, a program presented by the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, "Your Voice in the Future? The Role of Advance Directives Near End of Life". I have had the opportunity, as well, to work with the Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section as they present an extraordinary juvenile justice panel covering a wide range of cutting edge issues affecting juveniles in the system. The New Orleans 2013 Annual Conference Committee is already hard at work and will convene with a kickoff reception in this same week.
I am thrilled to report that all our Districts are ready to hit the ground running as we welcome in 2012 with another year of outreach and programming....many thanks to our outstanding District Directors!
Thank you all for your generous contributions to NAWJ through our Gift of Membership Drive. There is still time left to give if you haven't already done so.
I look forward to an action packed, productive year as we join together in celebration of the best that is NAWJ... all of you!
  Warm wishes,
     Amy

2012 Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference
March 9 - 11, 2012
The Charles Hotel
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Room Reservations: 800-882-1818
NAWJ Rate: $239/night, plus applicable taxes
Deadline to Reserve: February 17, 2012

Midyear Meeting Registration Fees*
NAWJ Members: $195
Non-NAWJ Member Guests:    $245

FRIDAY MARCH 9, 2012
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON: CHOICE FEMINISM AND THE REVOLUTION OF DECLINING EXPECTATIONS
Location: Harvard Law School
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
NAWJ members and guests will lunch at the prestigious Harvard Law School and hear from a keynote speaker addressing Choice Feminism and the Revolution of Declining Expectations.
Keynote Speaker: Judge Nancy Gertner (Retired), U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

A CONVERSATION WITH THE JUSTICE
Location: Harvard Law School
Time: 1:35 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
NAWJ members and guests will have the privilege of enlightening remarks and insight into life as a member of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Speaker: Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
Moderated by Dean Martha Minow, Harvard Law School

Presentation of the NAWJ Justice Elena Kagan Scholarship Award

"COURTS IN TIMES OF FISCAL CRISIS-WHO NEEDS COURTS?"
Location: Harvard Law School
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Moderator: Hon. Jonathan Lippman, Chief Judge of the State of New York and Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Panelists: NAWJ Judicial Education Committee Chairs Professor Vicki C. Jackson, Harvard Law School and Professor Judith Resnik, Yale Law School.

JUDICIAL/FRIENDS RECEPTION
Location: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
NAWJ members and guests will enjoy an evening reception at one of Boston's notable venues and network with old and new friends.

SATURDAY MARCH 10, 2012
BREAKFAST
Location: The Charles Hotel
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

EDUCATION PROGRAM
Location: The Charles Hotel
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Children & Immigration Issues - The Intersection in Judicial Proceedings

FREE TIME TO EXPLORE BOSTON, CAMBRIDGE AND SURROUNDS
Free time for those not attending the NAWJ Board meeting to explore Boston, Cambridge and surrounds. 
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

NAWJ 2012 MIDYEAR BOARD MEETING
NAWJ Board members and all NAWJ members that wish to attend.
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

JUDICIAL RECEPTION
Location: Schlesinger Library, Harvard's Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Cambridge
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
A resource for NAWJ archives, the recently renovated library highlights the importance of women's history in its collection own documents and publications. A jazz trio will provide musical entertainment.

SUNDAY MARCH 11, 2012
FARWELL BREAKFAST
Location: The Charles Hotel
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

MIDYEAR CONFERNCE SPONSORS
(to date)

Gold

• Bingham McCutchen
• Biogen Idec Inc.
• EMC Corporation
• Foley Hoag LLC
• Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
• State Street Corporation
• Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
• WilmerHale

Silver

• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
• West, a Thomson Reuters Business
• Bronze
• Lena Goldberg
• Goulston & Storrs
• Podhurst Orseck, P.A.
• Sherin and Lodgen LLP

Supporter

• Shilepsky Hartley Robb Casey Michon LLP

New Vice President of Publications Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby
Calls for Submissions for the Next Issue of Counterbalance
Deadline February 15, 2012

Counterbalance informs and connects our members around the country. It includes a variety of news and information which highlights NAWJ's many interesting activities. Consider sharing news from your jurisdiction with your fellow colleagues in the newsletter. If you know of female judges in your state who have been recently appointed, or if they have been promoted or received an honor, let us know. If you have articles, announcements, or events that you would like included in Counterbalance, please pass them along as well. NAWJ will also publish essays, and articles of interest which are in accord with our mission.
The deadline for submitting information for the next issue of Counterbalance is FEBRUARY 15, 2012. Look for the spring issue in April, 2012 after March's Midyear in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Those submitting material may do so by emailing all text and picture files to Lavinia Cousin at lcousin@nawj.org.

NAWJ Past President Hon Vanessa Ruiz 'Fine Tunes' Language Access in Courts Guidelines for ABA Adoption

Earlier this year NAWJ sponsored a resolution which sought to improve language access in the courts, an initiative NAWJ Past President Judge Vanessa Ruiz has been driving in her role as Project Chair and Member of the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants. The vote on the resolution was postponed until the ABA Midyear meeting in February 2012. Numerous individuals worked cooperatively to resolve differences, and the Standards for Language Access in the Courts will once again be before the House of Delegates in February. NAWJ's ABA Delegate Justice Fernande R.V. Duffly will be in the House of Delegates at the ABA Midyear to see the measure realized. Click here, here, here, and here to review current documents.
An update from the Hon, Vanessa Ruiz is below:

I write with good news on the Standards for Language Access in Courts that you have personally supported and NAWJ has co-sponsored. As you know, in August we presented the Standards to the ABA House of Delegates (at that time known as Resolution 122). At the request of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ), and as facilitated by Nan on behalf of NAWJ, we agreed to postpone consideration by the ABA House to allow time for further discussion. (A video of the floor presentations on behalf of SCLAID, CCJ and NAWJ can be seen at http://www.abanow.org/video_player.swf?id=20619). The postponement was to allow us time to work together with the understanding that the Standards would be resubmitted at the ABA Midyear meeting in February 2012, to be held in New Orleans. During the last few months, we have met a number of times, in person and by conference call, to discuss the Standards and review the Commentary with the leadership of CCJ, the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) and the National Center for State Courts. I am pleased to report that as a result of these sustained efforts, we have reached agreement on revised Standards.
As promised, SCLAID is submitting a Resolution (for this meeting it will be Resolution 113) adopting the revised Standards for consideration by the House of Delegates at the ABA Midyear Meeting on February 6, 2012. Resolution 113 and the revised Standards (with a mark-up showing changes) are attached.
The Standards continue to set an aspirational level consistent with the principles of access to justice, equal treatment, fairness and compliance with law that are at the heart of the Standards developed by the Advisory Group and approved by SCLAID, while providing needed flexibility where appropriate and recognizing the tight budget constraints under which so many courts are now operating.
There are changes throughout the document, but the main points are:
   1) The format of the Commentary has been reorganized so that under each standard there is now a section labeled "Commentary" that explains the Standard, and a section labeled "Best Practices" that gives detailed recommendations that courts can look to as a guide. They remain, however, substantively similar to the "Commentary" in the previous version.
   2) Standard I has been changed from "shall" to "should" to reflect the fact that the standards are aspirational. Similarly, where appropriate, "should" has replaced "must" in a number of places throughout the Commentary and Best Practices.
   3) The commentary to Standard 1 has been reorganized and rewritten to bring forward the access to justice, fairness and integrity of the courts sections, followed by the longer discussion of relevant case law and state and federal legal requirements.
   4) The definitions of "court services" and "court annexed proceedings" have been revised to clarify that a court's obligation to provide language services are coextensive with their management or operation of the service or proceeding.
   5) Section 2.3 continues to state that "courts should provide language access services without charge," but adds that courts "may assess or recoup the cost of such services" provided that such charges do not discriminate against LEP individuals, limit access to the courts, hinder the court's ability to decide cases fairly, or violate the law - the principles established in Standard 1. The Commentary and Best Practices discussion in Standard 2.3 set out criteria to be applied in determining when assessment or recoupment may be appropriate, and explain that indigency should not to be used as the determinative factor and that costs should be imposed only on "well-resourced" individuals and not those who are low or moderate income.
The Boards of CCJ and COSCA have adopted a joint resolution supporting the Standards:
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators support passage of the revised Standards for Language Access in the Courts by the ABA House of Delegates at the 2012 ABA Midyear Meeting: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conferences express appreciation to the ABA, the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, and the ABA Language Access Project Steering Committee for their willingness to work with the Conferences on this critical issue of access to justice and improving language access services in the courts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conferences, as a part of their continuing efforts to ensure equal access to justice for LEP individuals in courts, will convene a national summit in October 2012 in Houston, Texas to bring together chief justice-led state teams comprised of representatives from all three branches of government and the state bar to develop state specific strategies for improving access to justice for limited English proficient individuals."
The work, dedication and perseverance of many have brought us to this point. I especially want to thank the diligence of the working group that labored to the finish line: Bob Stein, Terry Brooks, Jill Dutton, Laura Abel, Justice Jim Duggan and Bob Juceam. Because of their knowledge, willingness to listen and creative persistence they collaborated with CCJ, COSCA and NCSC to develop not only a final written product but also a working relationship and trust that will stand us in good stead as we look forward to final adoption and implementation of the Standards.

Three Color of Justice Programs Presented over the Last Two Months
Massachusetts and North Dakota Joins California in Encouraging our Young People to Pursue Interests in the Law

Read Chris Bieri's account from the Grand Forks Herald below: A TASTE OF JUSTICE: Women judges, lawyers inspire senior girls to go into law. 12/09/2011
***
Jessica Swanson had a strong interest in entering a legal profession before she stepped into Courtroom 303 at the Grand Forks County Courthouse on Tuesday morning. By mid-afternoon, she not only had that notion reinforced, but also received guidance and advice from a dozen women she may someday count as peers. Swanson, an 18-year-old Red River High School senior, was one of 18 students participating in the "Color of Justice" program sponsored by the National Association of Women Justices. The program aims to encourage interested girls who are seniors to consider a legal career.
"I would like to become a lawyer," Swanson said. "I've known that for awhile. This is just a really unique opportunity to meet with lawyers who have been working for awhile, some who are newer and one of the girls is currently in law school."
Local Mentors
The program was coordinated by Grand Forks County District Judges Karen Braaten and Debbie Kleven and Pembina County District Judge Laurie Fontaine. It also featured a number of local female lawyers, both from private practice and the state's attorney's office. It included a panel discussion, a presentation by local bar association President Stephanie Johnson and a mock trial. "I think it is a really good program to just let kids know about what careers in law are available and what they might be interested in and get some more information about it," Fontaine said. The students also got a taste of different options for those not interested in becoming an attorney. "We mainly tried to talk about the different areas of law they could go into, not just being a judge or lawyer," said Grand Forks Attorney Rhiannon Gorham. "It was nice to have a court reporter and a clerk, so they could find out what those positions are and how you can get into them."

Profession 
During the panel discussion, Fontaine shared her early experiences of being a woman in a profession still dominated by men at that time. "I practiced in Pembina County for years and never saw another woman in the courtroom," she said. While the three judges provided the students with nearly 100 years of legal experience and anecdotes, many of the attorneys offered fresh, practical advice. Gorham, who graduated from UND Law School in May 2010, said it helps provide the students with a sense of where they could be in the near future. "Law school and the bar and getting licensed are still fresh in my mind," said Gorham, who graduated from UND Law School in May 2010. "I can relate what the legal environment is like right now, what the job situation is like, what my experiences are with the standards for getting into law school. We're not so far removed from the people we're working with that we can still relate to them."
The mock trial was geared toward the young crowd, revolving around a "sexting" case involving students at a high school. The trial used mentors to act out all areas of the process. Court reporter Michelle Bredemeier and Clerk of Court Kelly Hutton advised students on those jobs while prosecuting and defense attorneys helped the seniors adjudicate the case.

'Not a 9 to 5 job'
With working hours that can go around the clock, balancing family and career can be especially tough for attorneys. Many of the panelists shared their experiences of being a mother and wife while still trying to thrive in a competitive workplace. "I'm sure that the girls that were here will think about those issues as they go forward choosing a career," Fontaine said. "The reality is that it's not a 9 to 5 job. It's hard work to keep up on the law." Family-related requests made by attorneys in the courtroom used to be frowned upon, but now are commonplace and are made by males almost as often as females. "I think everyone is more sympathetic," Kleven said. "It really isn't unusual for an attorney to say, 'Can we be done at 4:30? I have to pick up my kids.' That never would've been done 10 years ago."
The program provided answers to practical questions, something that Gorham said all the girls will need if they pursue a legal education. "I did have a lot of programs like this or mentors, where I could ask those practical questions," she said. "I know this is what the book says, but what am I going to see in practice? I think that's best to have an experience like this. It motivates you to get into a career like this." The experience sealed Swanson's future plans. "Participating in this event totally makes me excited for law school," she said. "I definitely want to be a lawyer. This has sparked a flame in me."

____
Springfield, Massachusetts
In this Color of Justice program, after an introduction by Hon. Ariane D. Vuono, Appeals Court, and opening remarks by Hon. Barbara Lenk, Supreme Judicial Court, two panels of legal luminaries inspired the Western New England University students to pursue a career in the law and the judiciary; identify the academic requirements and skills needed to be successful in a career in law and the judiciary; understand the importance of the personal commitment, passion, and perseverance needed to achieve a career goal; understand the Judicial Branch of government; and appreciate and understand the role and responsibility of a judge. The panels:

LAW AS A CAREER - PREPARING THE WAY
Panelists discussed how they become interested in a career in the law and how they prepared academically during college to achieve their goals. Topics included academic requirements and skills that participants need in order to succeed in a career in the law and the different options available to law school graduates. The panel was moderated by: Hon. Marylou Muirhead, Housing Court and NAWJ District One, Deputy Director, and included additional panelists: Hon. Bertha Josephson, Superior Court; Hon. MaryLou Rup, Superior Court ; Suzanne Parker, Executive Director, Girls Inc. of Holyoke; Attorney Tracy Duncan; Attorney Arvett Bradford; Attorney Alesia Days; Michael Johnson, Dean of Admissions, Western New England School of Law.

JUDGES MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Judges discussed why they chose the judiciary as a career, their role and responsibilities, and the challenges and rewards of their profession. Judges will share their own life experiences, a typical workday, challenges and rewards, and the meaning and importance of collegiality in the judiciary. The panel was moderated by Hon. Amy Nechtem, Juvenile Court and NAWJ President, and included additional panelists Hon. Tina Page, Superior Court; Hon. Patricia Dunbar, Juvenile Court; Hon. Judith Phillips, Juvenile Court; Hon. Jacklyn M. Connelly, District Court; and Hon. Anne Geoffrion, Probate and Family Court.
The program took place November 16, 2011 in the Commons of Western New England University School of Law.

____
Martinez, California
Ever sensitive to providing the most harmonious atmosphere for their assembly of 45 teens, Color of Justice Planning Committee Chair Justice María P. Rivera (First District Court of Appeal) and NAWJ Past President Judge Barbara Zúñiga (Contra Costa County Superior Court) were joined by NAWJ District Director Presiding Judge Diana Becton (Contra Costa County Superior Court) to inspire our future leaders toward a career in the law. The Color of Justice Program took place on November 4, 2011 at the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez, California in collaboration with the Contra Costa County Bar Association.
____
San Francisco, California
Building on their wonderful success previous years, the San Francisco team of San Francisco Superior Court Judges Charlene Kiesselbach and Suzanne Bolanos, and Sedgwick's Special Ethics & Conflicts Counsel Eliza M Rodrigues joined again with the Queen's Bench Bar Association and the California Women Lawyers' Kelly Robbins to engage the near 90 students from Balboa High School in their adventures understanding the intricacies law. The program took place November 14, 2011 at the San Francisco Superior Court.
Click here to read California Women's Lawyers Governor M. Prudence Hutton's detailed account.

"Meet Me In Miami"
NAWJ 34th Annual Conference
November 7 - 11, 2012
Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida

Room Reservations: (800) 319-5354
NAWJ Rate: $199/night, plus applicable taxes

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS
Judge Lisa S. Walsh    Judge Myriam Lehr

FRIENDS COMMITTEE
Law Firm Partners Co-Chairs
Elizabeth Hernandez, Akerman Senterfitt 
Linda M. Leali, White & Case LLP
Detra P. Shaw-Wilder, Koyzak Tropin & Throckmorton
Corporate Partners Chair
Mikki Canton, AsiaAmericana International LLC

ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Gold

• Akerman Senterfitt LLP

Silver

• Astigarraga Davis
• Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
• Broad and Cassel
• Carlton Fields
• GrayRobinson, P.A.
• Hogan Lovells
• Hunton & Williams LLP
• Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A.
• Merrill Lynch Global Wealth and Investment Management, The MAB Group
• Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.
• White & Case LLP

Bronze

• Avila Rodriguez Hernandez Mena & Ferri LLP
• Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP
• Grossman Roth, P.A.
• Holland & Knight LLP
• Podhurst Orseck, P.A.
• TotalBank
• Amigos
• Damian & Valori LLP
• Elser Foster-Morales
• GlassRatner Advisory & Capital Group
• Meland Russin & Budwick
• The Law Office of Nicole E. Mestre, P.A.
• Pathman Lewis, LLP
• Squire, Sanders & Dempsey
• Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske, P.L.

TENATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

PLENARY PANELS
INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY
This panel will address - what are the problems facing independence of the judiciary, what can we do about it, what ARE we doing about it, effective strategies for judicial independence, what is happening in other countries.

POWER AND REACH OF THE INTERNET AND THE AGE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING 
What are the existing privacy laws, what are expectations of privacy, how do those existing privacy laws fit in with the current realities, cyberstalking and available remedies. How does the internet and social networking impact the judiciary and the ethics of judges or their clerks using the internet to research information about cases, jury members, lawyers, etc.

JUDGING IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
This panel will address what judges can, do and should communicate with one another, formally and informally, regarding cross border issues or simultaneous proceedings. We will use Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code, which explicitly authorizes such communication, as a spring board for what could be used as a model in general business cases.

BRINGING HUMAN RIGHTS HOME 
This panel will examine what is new and what is happening with respect to the use of Human Rights Norms in the domestic (US) context.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS
THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
These panels will address the far reaching impact of the economic crisis on individuals, institutions, and the society at large.
(i) HIDDEN IMPACT: THE UNSEEN CONSEQUENCES OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
Beyond banks and board rooms the global economic downturn is having a profound effect on the everyday lives of people around the world. Societies, too, are being tested as the engines of economic growth sputter forward. This panel will explore the less visible consequences of the financial crisis and its impact on people and communities.
(ii) CURBING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN A DOWN ECONOMY
Equal justice is an idea that we have long striven for in American society. But, is the economic crisis, with its strained government budgets, court cutbacks and loss of legal aid funding, turning back the clock on the progress we've made in reaching the goal of equal justice for all? Join us for this panel in which we will discuss how the financial squeeze is impacting access to justice at the individual court level and in society in general.

PRESENTATIONS BY AUTHORS
We will have two authors discuss books they have recently written and sign books.
(i)    Judith Resnick will speak about her book "Representing Justice".
(ii)    Prof. Sally Kenney will discuss her book "Gender and Judging"

THE IMPACT OF OTHER LAWS ON COURT DECISIONS 
This panel will discuss issues relating to bankruptcy, immigration and other laws that may or will impact criminal, family and commercial cases.

LAWYERING & JUSTICE: EMERGING ISSUES IN NATIONS IN TRANSITION 
This panel will look at the challenges that women lawyers and judges are facing as the world around them changes. We have issues in the Middle and Far East as well as much closer to home - the Caribbean and Venezuela.

NON-ACADEMIC SESSIONS
SO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A BOOK IN YOU 
Someone "in the business" will share the secrets (and not so secret) of what it takes to write a book and get it published.

WOMEN'S HEALTH PANEL 
A panel of doctors from the University of Miami School of Medicine will discuss the aging woman and the physical and psychological issues about which we should be aware.

MINDFULNESS AND STRESS REDUCTION 
A discussion about a new method for reducing stress and making us more effective judges.

YOGA, PILATES, AND MEDITATION
We will start our day(s) the right way with a group class each morning.

BRINGING HUMAN RIGHTS HOME 
This panel will examine what is new and what is happening with respect to the use of Human Rights Norms in the domestic (US) context.

International Organization for Judicial Training Welcomes the Faculty of Law at the University of Haifa on the Initiative of Establishing the International Academy of Judges and in cooperation with Brandeis University International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life presents
Summer Workshops in Haifa, Israel
July 15-August 3, 2012

NAWJ Friend Professor Leigh Swigart announces judicial training opportunities in Haifa, Israel to members of the National Association of Women Judges. They will run from 15 July to 3 August 2012. Download the brochure here which describes the program and how the courses can be credit-bearing for judges wishing to eventually gain a degree. Brandeis University will hold a short judicial colloquium as part of the program as well. Haifa is very eager to have judges from across the globe, and there are scholarships available.
If you have questions not answerable from the workshop guide, contact Leigh Swigart, Ph.D., Director of Programs in International Justice and Society International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life Brandeis University Waltham MA 02454. Phone: (781) 736-2694. www.brandeis.edu/ethics
New 2012 Forster-Long State Gender Ratio Statistics 

Now Available from NAWJ's website

From NAWJ's website you may now view state level gender statistics from Forster-Long's most recent publication of THE AMERICAN BENCH, an annual comprehensive publication that profiles federal and state courts. In 2008 the National Association of Women Judges joined with Forster-Long, publisher of THE AMERICAN BENCH and THE AMERICAN BAR, to share information it gathers for its publication and for NAWJ members to provide Forster-Long with biographical information and other data.
Click on the U.S. map on our homepage to find for each state: (1) the ratio of total women state court judges to total judges in that particular state (2) the ratio of women to total judges in the state's court of highest jurisdiction (3) the ratio of women to total judges in the state's intermediate appellate courts (4) the ratio of women to total judges in the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction, and (5) the ratio of women to total judges in the state's lower level trial courts of limited jurisdiction.

Events

2012
Training Women Lawyers on the Judicial Selection Process, January 26, 2012 at 5:30 pm. Semmes, Bowen and Semmes in Baltimore, MD.
18th Annual Judge Irma S. Raker Meeting of NAWJ Maryland Chapter and Women Legislators of Maryland Dinner. February 15, 2012 at 6:00 pm at the Government House in Annapolis, MD.
NAWJ's Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference will take place March 9 - 11 in Cambridge, Massachusetts at The Charles Hotel.
Pathways to the Bench. Sponsored by NAWJ and the D.C. Women's Law Initiative will take place March 17 at Catholic University Columbus School of Law, Washington, D.C.
The International Association of Women Judges 2012 Bi-Annual Conference will take place May 2 - 5 in London, United Kingdom.
NAWJ's 34th Annual Conference will take place in Miami, Florida, November 7 - 11 at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach.

2013
NAWJ's 35th Annual Conference will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2014
The 2014 International Association of Women Judges Bi-Annual Conference will take place in Tanzania May 6 - 9.

NAWJ
Mission Statement:
The National Association of Women Judges' mission is to: Promote the judicial role of protecting the rights of individuals under the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse judicial leadership, fairness and equality in the courts, and equal access to justice.

About NAWJ:
Since its formation in 1979, NAWJ has inspired and lead the American judiciary in achieving fairness and equality for vulnerable populations. Led by two visionary women - Justice Joan Dempsey Klein and Justice Vaino Spencer - 100 brave and intrepid women judges met and formed an organization dedicated to the following ideals: ensuring equal justice and access to the courts for all including women, youth, the elderly, minorities, the underprivileged, and people with disabilities; providing judicial education on cutting-edge issues of importance; developing judicial leaders; increasing the number of women on the bench in order for the judiciary to more accurately reflect the role of women in a democratic society; and improving the administration of justice to provide gender-fair decisions for both male and female litigants.

From the day it was founded, NAWJ has been committed to diversity in our membership. Our organization welcomes both men and women. We include appellate, trial, tribal, administrative law judges, state and federal judges, and members from every state in the nation.

NAWJ takes pride in its accomplishments. We were at the forefront in the establishment and implementation of gender bias task forces in both federal and state courts. We have greatly advanced the administration of justice in areas of domestic violence, child support and child custody, and the treatment of women in the courts of America. We also are respected as a leader in educating judges on bioethics, elderly abuse, the sentencing of women offenders with substance abuse problems; improving conditions for women in prison; and the problems facing immigrants in our court system. Currently we are developing curricula on the effect of genetic advances on women and vulnerable populations, the impact of international law on state and federal courts, and cognitively disabled persons in criminal courts.

In addition to addressing these and other important issues, NAWJ provides an opportunity for judges to meet and discuss professional issues of mutual concern in a supportive atmosphere. Connecting with others with the same values, we laugh, enjoy life and mentor one another nationwide.