http://www.nawj.org/files/monthly_update/june_2011.html 

In This Issue:

• Our Alaskan Cruise, For Many A Life Impressing Adventure
• Submit Your Nominations for 2010-2011 NAWJ Board Officer Positions, Deadline July 15
• Nominate Your fellow Members for NAWJ Annual Awards, Deadline June 27th
• Participate in NAWJ's July 7th Meeting with the Congressional Women's Caucus
• Reserve Your Room and Register for the NAWJ's Annual Conference in Newark, New Jersey, October 12 - 16, 2011
• Scholarships to NAWJ's 2011 Annual Conference in Newark Available for Judges in Other Countries
• Excursions to New York City Planned During the 2011 Newark Annual Conference
• Vice President-Elect Amy Nechtem receives a Judicial Excellence Award from the MA Judicial Conference
• Summer Counterbalance Submission Deadline July 15th

NAWJ Cruises Alaska

Ninety-eight NAWJ members, family and friends departed Vancouver aboard the MS Statendam on Sunday, May 22, for a trip up Alaska's Inside Passage. The days at sea were opportunities to take in excellent seminars on subjects including retirement, diversity, ethics and mediation. The ports of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway's change of scenery moved travelers to tour scenic towns and enjoy shore excursions.

Sporting NAWJ fleece vests, members could be seen walking on glaciers, dog sled mushing in deep snow, catching salmon and crabs, and learning how totem poles are carved.

Navigating through the varied modes of transportation, which included helicopters, float planes, narrow gauge railroads, fjord boats, bicycles, horses and zip lines, was adventure enough. For others, panning for gold brought hope that they would find enough of the valuable glittering metal to pay for their cruise trip itself. Suffice it to say, a couple of flakes sifted after a good run meant finding solace in their Alaskan Cruise being money well spent.

Old miners' tales and spectacular scenery were constant entertainment. Who could resists sailing up Glacier Bay and watching the glaciers calving and wild animals in habitat.

A reception in Juneau, hosted by the Juneau Bar Association, featured entertainment by native dancers and a performance of Robert Service's poems by a local attorney who is also an actor.

Evenings found cruise-goers gathering for dinner and dancing in the Crow's Nest and watching musical entertainment. This cruise was a chance for many to get together and to know each other.

NAWJ's inaugural cruise conference was able to successfully combine education, adventure, fine dining and bonding. Please stay tuned for information about our next journey.

Nominating Committee Seeks Nominations for 2011-2012 NAWJ Board of Directors positions 

The Nominating Committee of the National Association of Women Judges seeks nominees for the following positions in the 2011-2012 term:

President-Elect
Vice President for Districts
Vice President for Publications
Secretary
Treasurer
International Director

The duties of these positions are set out in the Bylaws, Art. X (Duties of Officers) and Art. VIII (Representatives of Other Organizations.)

NAWJ Bylaws:
"The Nominating Committee shall present at least one (l) nominee for each officer's position. A nomination for each officer's position also may be submitted in writing to the Nominating Committee by petition of no less than nine (9) voting members of the organization at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting. The list of nominees for each position designated by the Nominating Committee and by petition shall be circulated to the voting membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. Nominations for all officer positions may also be made by voting members from the floor at the Annual Meeting provided such nominees' names have previously been submitted to the Nominating Committee and the Nominating Committee has failed to endorse their candidacy."

We invite you to nominate yourself or another member (with consent) for any of these offices.

Only voting members, current members who are either sitting or retired member judges, in good standing are eligible to hold office and remain subject to the canons of judicial conduct.

Please submit a letter stating the roles the nominee has played in NAWJ activities, including particular accomplishments you wish to bring to the committee's attention, and the nominee's curriculum vita. The letter also should include a paragraph on the strengths the nominee would bring to the leadership of the organization, such as, for example, past financial experience for the position of treasurer. Current officers seeking a different office must submit a letter of nomination. The President-Elect must have served a term as Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary, or as Chair of the Projects Committee, the Resource Development Committee, or the Finance Committee. Candidates for the position of President-Elect should also address their plans to continue and build on NAWJ's existing programs and implement NAWJ's Long-Range Strategic Plan (2007-2012), which can be found at NAWJ's website.

Individual nominations and nominations by petition must be submitted to the Nominating Committee by Tuesday, July 12, 2011.

Please address letters to:
National Association of Women Judges
ATTN: Hon. Dana Fabe
1341 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 4.2
Washington, D.C. 20036
Fax: (202) 393-0125 or E-mail: nawj@nawj.org

MEMBERS OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

Hon. Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court, Chair
Hon. Judith Chirlin, California Superior Court (Retired)
Hon. Jane Craney, Morgan Superior Court, Indiana
Hon. Bernice Donald, U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
Hon. Carol Feinman, New York City Civil Court, New York
Hon. Debra James, New York State Supreme Court
Hon. Rosemary Ledet, Civil District Court, Louisiana
Hon. Brenda Stith Loftin, St. Louis County Circuit Court, Missouri
Hon. Brenda Murray, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Hon. Cara Lee Neville, 4th Judicial District Court, Minnesota
Hon. Mary M. Schroeder, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Arizona
Hon. Bea Ann Smith, Third Court of Appeals, Texas (Retired)

NAWJ Awards Committee Seeks Nominations for Annual Honorable Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year Award and Florence K. Murray Awards
The NAWJ Awards Committee requests nominations for the Honorable Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year Award and for the Florence K. Murray Award. Nominations will be accepted for a period of two weeks beginning on Monday June 14th. The deadline for submitting a nomination for these two awards is July 15th. To assist you in nominating a deserving candidate for these two important awards, sample forms are attached. Click here for KLEIN Award. Click here for MURRAY Award.
Awards will be given out at the 33rd Annual Conference to be held in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday October 16, 2011.
Please submit the completed nomination no later than July 15th to jgroton@nawj.org or by mail or fax to:
Jeffrey Groton
Chief Operating Officer
National Association of Women Judges
1341 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036-1834
Fax: 202-393-0125
AWARDS COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Chair, Hon. Judith Chirlin, California Superior Court (Retired)
Hon. Katherine Ann Bacal, San Diego County Superior Court
Hon. Diana Becton, Contra Costa County Superior Court
Hon. Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Hon. Beverly Winslow Cutler, Alaska Court System (Retired)
Hon. Diana Eagon, Hennepin County District Court, Minnesota (Retired)
Hon. Marjorie Rasmussen, California Department of Insurance
NAWJ Will Meet the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues July 7th on Capitol Hill
This summer on July 7th NAWJ will meet with members of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues on Capitol Hill in the beautiful Cannon Caucus Room.
NAWJ President Judge Marjorie Laird Carter along with Meeting Co-Chair Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, will join Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Cynthia Lummis (WY) and Representative Gwen Moore (WI) in chairing this year's Meeting. Representative Moore, who has expressed a great interest in exploring domestic violence, will add to immigration and human trafficking discussion topics. Vice-Chairs for this Congress' Caucus are Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA) and 
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL), the latter a current member of the House Judiciary Committee. Other House Judiciary Committee members who are also Women's Caucus members are Rep. Sandra "Sandy" Adams (FL), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), Rep. Maxine Waters (CA), Rep. Judy Chu (CA) and Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA).
Any NAWJ member who would like to attend this year's luncheon (July 7th from 12:00-1:30 p.m.), please call Lavinia Cousin at 202-393-0222 by June 20th. NAWJ will not be able to defray your travel expenses, but has reserved a block of rooms at the Cosmos Club ($177/night) for use associated with the Meeting. These rooms will be released on June 4th. We are making a special effort increase the attendance of congresswomen and request your assistance by contacting your Caucus Representative and/or Caucus Task Force Co-Chair you would like to address. Click here to view a list of current Congressional Caucus Members. See the Caucus' Task Force Chairs below.
WOMEN'S CAUCUS TASK FORCE CO-CHAIRS FOR THE 112TH CONGRESS:
Women's Health: Reps. Shelley Moore Capito and Lois Capps
Women and the Economy/Business: Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Chellie Pingree
Violence Against Women: Reps. Jean Schmidt and Loretta Sanchez
International Women's Issues: Reps. Judy Biggert and Jan Schakowsky
Afghan Women: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Donna Edwards
Trafficking: Reps. Ann Marie Buerkle and Carolyn Maloney
Women in the Military/Veterans: Reps. Kay Granger and Susan Davis
Young Women: Rep. Tammy Baldwin
Women of Color: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Education: Rep. Judy Chu

Global Women's Issues
NAWJ's 33rd Annual Conference
October 12 - 16, 2011
Hilton Newark Penn Station Hotel
Newark, New Jersey
Reservations: (973) 622-5000
NAWJ Rate: $170/night, plus applicable taxes
Conference Chair
The Honorable Sue Pai Yang, Judge, New Jersey Workers' Compensation Court
Co-Chair
Associate Dean Frances Bouchoux, Rutgers School of Law, Newark
Other Executive Committee
District 3 Director    Judge Sandra Ann Robinson
NAWJ New Jersey Chapter Chair    Judge Michelle Hollar-Gregory
Education Programs    Judge Rosemary Gambardella
Download the Conference Agenda at a Glance here, and the Registration Form here.
Conference Highlights
(subject to change)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
2010-2011 Board Meeting
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NAWJ Resource Board Meeting
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
First time Attendee and Visiting International Judges Meeting
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Opening Session and Plenary
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Conversation with Leaders on Global Women's Issues
Friends' Sponsors Luncheon at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Optional Bus Trip to New York City guided by New York judges (additional fee required)
Optional New Jersey Highlights Tour (additional fee required)
Friday, October 14, 2011
NAWJ District Breakfast Meetings
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Promoting Global Equality for Women through the Law
Rutgers School of Law, Newark
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
An all day symposium including four panel programs featuring academics, international judges, and human rights advocates discussing violence against women; human trafficking; deprivation of women's property rights; reproductive health issues; and related issues that are vital to promoting women's rights across the globe. We would ask the panelists to discuss what the law is/should be and the gaps between the law and enforcement in their respective jurisdictions. The goal would be to publish both the transcript of the symposium and scholarly articles.
Introduction
Panel 1: Ending Violence Against Women
This panel will discuss cultural aspects of violence against women and what legal mechanisms exist or should exist to eliminate such violence, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) and UN Resolutions 1325 and 1820.
Panel 2: Ensuring Economic Equality for Women in a Global Society
According to a recent report by Human Rights Watch, millions of women around the world who suffer deprivation of property rights "end up impoverished, struggling to meet their families' basic needs, living in decaying shacks in dangerous slums, and vulnerable to violence and disease." Studies show that gender equality promotes broad economic growth for society at large and, thus, breaking down gender barriers to educational access and job opportunities is essential to improving life for all. This panel will examine the discriminatory laws and practices that deprive women of their property rights and the role of legislators and the courts in reforming laws to protect women's economic rights an around the globe.
Panel 3: Prevention of Human Trafficking
International trafficking in human beings has become one of the fastest growing crimes around the globe, impacting disproportionately on women and children. This panel will discuss UN protocol to prevent trafficking of humans and the ABA's human trafficking assessment tool and analyze how domestic laws in various countries can be improved to address this growing epidemic.
Panel 4: Prevention of Human Trafficking II
Luncheon and Keynote Address
EVENING RECEPTION
Location: U. S. District Courthouse
Host: Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Speaker: Professor Annette Gordon-Reed, former Professor at Rutgers University and now at Harvard University. Recipient of the 2010 MacArthur Fellowship aka "genius grant" and the 2010 National Humanities Medal presented by President Barack Obama. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History and 15 other prizes in 2009 for her publication, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
NAWJ Committee Breakfast Meetings
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
NAWJ Business Meeting
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Education Sessions at the Seton Hall University School of Law dedicated to the memory of the late Honorable Shirley Tolentino, NAWJ President 1996-97 and Seton Hal alumna.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
THE JUDICIAL ROLE IN CURRENT ISSUES
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Session One: Urban Revitalization: Foreclosure Crisis, Access to Education Session Two: Prisoner Reentry
Session Three: Forensic Evidence and Daubert Issues
Session Four: Cross-Cultural Issues in the Courts
Session Five: Family Law and Domestic Violence
Session Six: Immigration and Its Impact on Families
Session Seven: Effective Leadership Styles
NAWJ Investiture Luncheon
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
2011-2012 Board Meeting
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Tour of New Jersey Sights
Silent Auction
NAWJ Annual Banquet Gala
Keynote Speaker: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Farewell Breakfast featuring a video montage of the Newark Conference Events
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

The National Association of Women Judges
International Judges' Annual Conference Scholarship
Funded by Robert M. Kaufman and The New York Community Trust
In an effort to continue the global presence that so many of NAWJ's Annual Conference attendees have grown to appreciate, and expect, NAWJ will once again bring together judicial officers from around the world to share knowledge and experiences that promote and ensure fairness, gender equality and equal access to justice.
To ensure judicial international diversity NAWJ is offering scholarships, to judges in countries other than the United States, to assist with their travel and lodging expenses while attending this year's 33rd Annual Conference in Newark, New Jersey. For more information, click here.
Travel Eligible for Funding
Individuals may apply for an award to attend the NAWJ 33rd Annual Conference. Allowable expenses include economy (coach) airfare and lodging costs (shared rooms). This Scholarship does not cover the Conference Registration fee of $495, or optional excursions; however there may be additional funds made available from another funding source to assist with registration fees if needed.
Who is Eligible?
Judges from all countries other than the United States are eligible to apply for a scholarship.
Closing Date
The application deadline is July 31, 2011.
Submission Requirements
To apply, download and complete the application form, and send to:
Jeffrey Groton
National Association of Women Judges
1341 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036
Fax: (202) 393-0125
Email: nawj@nawj.org
Tour Excursions into New York City
During the Annual Conference in Newark
For those of you planning to attend this year's Annual Conference in Newark, New Jersey in October, and believe you will find the nearness of New York City just too irresistible, a welcoming committee of judges in New York have organized a diverse set of unique tour excursions into New York City:
Ground Zero, High Line Park and View Manhattan by Water;
Historic Harlem with a Tour of the Apollo Theater and Authentic Creole Cuisine;
The Sights of the Big Apple and the Sounds of Broadway.
Click here to review the more detailed descriptions of each tour track. The New York Excursion Planning Committee would love to learn what you think about the options they have planned. Please email any feedback, and committed interest of course, to Jeffrey Groton at jgroton@nawj.org.
Vice President-Elect Amy Nechtem receives a Judicial Excellence Award from the MA Judicial Conference
Vice President-Elect Amy Nechtem received a well deserved Judicial Excellence award from the Massachusetts Judicial Conference at a reception on May 25, 2011. The award is given to those judges who have demonstrated extrordinary excellence in their service to the Massachusetts judiciary.
Summer Counterbalance
Submission Deadline July 15th
With the spring issue of NAWJ's newsletter Counterbalance having just arrived in your mail boxes, you are probably thinking "I've got some news too!" The next issue of Counterbalance will be published at the end of August, and the deadline for submissions will be July 15th. Since there will not be another issue published until next year, please consider readying your submissions, as the due date is right around the corner.
The Counterbalance newsletter is open to all members who would like to share.
If you are planning on submitting an article or essay, consider mentioning your ideas Vice President of Publications Judge Sheri Roman by email, sroman@courts.state.ny.us, or phone 718.298.1441, and Lavinia Cousin as soon possible. While the summer issue is sometimes longer than the spring, we will not be able to offer unlimited space. Lavinia may be reached by email, lcousin@nawj.org, or phone 202.393.0222.
All submissions including text and photos must reach NAWJ's office by July 15th. Send to Lavinia Cousin at lcousin@nawj.org.
Events
2012
NAWJ Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference: March 8 - 11 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The International Association of Women Judges 2012 Bi-Annual Conference will take place May 2 - May 5 in London, United Kingdom.
NAWJ's 34th Annual Conference will take place in Miami, Florida, November 7 - 11.
2013
NAWJ's 35th Annual Conference will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2014
2014 International Association of Women Judges Bi-Annual Conference will take place in Tanzania May 6 - 9th.

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.