In This Issue:

• Reserve Your Room and Register Now for the Annual Conference in Newark, New Jersey, October 12 - 16, 2011
• NAWJ to hold Sixth Meeting with the Congressional Women's Caucus on Capitol Hill
• NAWJ Awarded Grant by State Justice Institute for Training on Immigration
• Gold Landmark Sponsors Join in Scholarship Awards
• Women in Prison Committee Advances Incarceration Discussions, Request Inmate Mother's Day Support

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

2011 Conference Committee members in a jury box in the Historic Courthouse in Newark, New Jersey. Please find full committee list below.

Dear NAWJ Members;

We are excited to invite everyone to the 33rd Annual National Association of Women Judges Conference. The conference theme, "Global Women's Issues" sets the stage for a dialogue on common concerns among American and international judges, legal scholars and attorneys. Topics include promoting global equality for women through the law, the role of judges in cross-cultural issues, family law, and effective leadership. With the generosity of supporters, personal contacts and a strong, enthusiastic committee, we expect many international judges to attend the conference and the preconference tours of our courts.

The Conference will be held in downtown Newark, New Jersey from October 12 to 16, 2011. Did you know that Newark is the third city to be established in the New World, after Boston and New York City? We welcome you to come and discover its diverse offerings of cuisine, the arts, and historical landmarks. The noteworthy Ironbound Section showcases the best Portuguese food outside of the Iberian Peninsula, and the Newark Museum has 80 galleries of world-class collections. Nearby is the stately Historic Courthouse that was designed by Cass Gilbert, the same architect who designed the United States Supreme Court. In the front of the Courthouse is the bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln that was created by Gutzon Borglum, who also designed Mount Rushmore. Nearby is the famous Branch Brook Park that was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted after he completed New York's Central Park.

Newark is also only minutes away from Manhattan. You can network with colleagues during the conference and then head across the river together to see a Broadway show, take a horse and carriage ride through Central Park, tour a museum, or simply walk through Times Square and view firsthand the city that never sleeps.

To promote a fun way to connect with other attendees after you register, we invite you to email us a one-page introduction of yourself with a short bio, a photo, your interests - professional and personal - such as a promotion, a summary of your high profile opinions, your avocation, a great recipe you would like to share, or perhaps some recent travel pictures. We will compile these one page attendee bios into a booklet ready for you to peruse on the first day of the conference. This jumpstarts our networking because others will already know a little something about you!

We look forward to seeing you in October.

With warm regards,
The 2011 Conference Committee

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

Standing Committees
Continuing Legal Education - Judge Debra J. Gelson
Education Programs - Judge Rosemary Gambardella, Associate Dean Frances Bouchoux
Finance - Lorraine A. Abraham, Esq.
First Time Attendees/Mentor Program - Judge Estela De La Cruz
International Judges - Judge Sue Pai Yang
Keynote Speaker - Judge Sandra Ann Robinson
Liaison to the Friends Committee - Judge Isabel B. Stark, Ret.
New Members - Judge Debra J. Gelson
Publications/PR/Artwork - Judge Siobhan A. Teare, Associate Dean Frances V. Bouchoux, Susan E. Volkert, Esq., Mamie Lau, Kim Ware
Registration - Judge Michelle Hollar-Gregory
Silent Auction - Judge Frances Antonin, Ret.
Social Events - Judge Barbara Curran, Ret., Judge Lourdes I. Santiago
Volunteers - Associate Dean Frances V. Bouchoux, Susan E. Volkert, Esq.

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.

First time attendees 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

Sponsors Luncheon at the Newark Club
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Bus trip to New York City guided by New York judges (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 at the 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

BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Session One: Urban Revitalization

• Foreclosure Crisis
• Access to Education
• Prisoner Reentry

Session Two: Forensic Evidence and Daubert Issues

Session Three: Cross-Cultural Issues in the Courts

Session Four: Family Law and Domestic Violence

Session Five: Immigration and Its Impact on Families

Session Six: 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

Banquet Gala and Silent Auction
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Sunday, October 16, 2011
Closing Breakfast
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

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. The Meeting with the Congressional Caucus represents an opportunity to continue collaboration between the Caucus and NAWJ that began several years ago in 2006 with Past President Judge Vanessa Ruiz.

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 Donna Edwards
International Women's Issues: Reps. Judy Biggert and Jan Schakowsky
Afghan Women: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Trafficking: Reps. Ann Marie Buerkle and Carolyn Maloney
Women in the Military/Veterans: Reps. Kay Granger and Susan Davis
Young Women: Tammy Baldwin
Women of Color: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Education: Rep. Judy Chu

NAWJ Continues Immigration Training with Grant from the State Justice Institute

Last month, the State Justice Institute met and approved a $30,000 grant to the National Association of Women Judges for Curriculum Adaptation & Training (CAT) Grants. The grant will support updating NAWJ's 2002 Removing Obstacles to Justice for Immigrants education program, and presentations around the country. Judge Joan Churchill, Chair of NAWJ Projects Committee, will continue moderating these programs the first of which took place at NAWJ's 2011 Midyear Meeting in Laguna Beach, a second discussion is planned for NAWJ's 2011 summer meeting with the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, and a third session, Immigration and Its Impact on Families, is being planned for the Annual Conference in Newark in October.

NAWJ'S Gold Sponsors Shine in Honoring Emerging Talent With Scholarships

In a warm reception on April 26 honoring newly appointed and elevated women judges, District Director Justice Ariane Vuono convened NAWJ members in a gathering for an annual meeting in the John Adams Courthouse in Boston. Deputy District Director Judge Mary Lou Muirhead also found the evening a great opportunity to award an Equal Access to Justice Scholarship. The Award, sponsored by longtime NAWJ supporter Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, was given to University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth School of Law third year student Alanda Elaine Grice. Edwards Angell attorney and NAWJ Resource Board member Windy Rosebush Catino, who joined the group as NAWJ member and representative of the firm, was overjoyed with the awarding and found the experience a wonderful opportunity to greet fellow members and colleagues in her legal community. The festive group of jurists and attorneys were joined by newly elected women legislators in honoring colleague Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Judith Cowin. In photo from right to left, Windy Rosebush Catino, Alanda Elaine Grice, Judge Amy Nechtem, and Justice Fernande R.V. Duffly.

Landmark Sponsor ORRICK and Seattle, Washington Women's Law Caucuses Join NAWJ Judicial Reception to Honor Law Student with Award
April saw members at a wonderfully received judicial reception hosted by the Women's Law Caucus of both University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law, and sponsored by the National Association of Women Judges, with support by and the Washington State Association for Justice, and the State Gender and Justice Commission. In attendance were several lawyers including attorney Melissa Anderson from the international law firm ORRICK, and NAWJ Landmark Sponsor, who made the scholarship possible. Over 50 women judges attended with a like number of law students. The event was held at a local restaurant, and the students and judges had a lively interaction before and after presentation of the NAWJ Scholarship. In photo (from left): ORRICK attorney, Melissa Anderson (tallest in front row); Priyanka Prakash, NAWJ Scholarship winner, University of Washington law student (holding certificate); Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice and NAWJ member Barbara Madsen; far right, NAWJ District 13 Director Judge Marilyn Paja. All others are law students from University of Washington and Seattle University who hosted the event.

Morrison & Foerster LLP Supports NAWJ Scholarship Award to Chapman University Law Student
At a luncheon for conference attendees and sponsors at NAWJ's Midyear in Laguna, Judge Jamoa Moberly as District Director and conference co-chair welcomed everyone and introduced President Marjorie Laird Carter. Judge Carter, a graduate of Chapman University, along Resource Board member Nancy R. Thomas, an attorney with NAWJ Landmark Sponsor Morrison & Foerster LLP, presented the Equal Access to Justice Scholarship to Whitney Stefko who is currently in her second year at Chapman University Law School. Whitney is a member of the law school's Alternate Dispute Resolution Board and will be representing Chapman at an international mediation competition in London at the end of March. Outside of law school, Whitney spends every Sunday working with an autistic child and is passionate about raising awareness and acceptance of children with special needs. In photo from left, Nancy R. Thomas, Whitney Stefko and NAWJ President Marjorie Laird Carter.

NAWJ's New York Chapter Joins Avon Global Center for Women and Justice's

On March 14, Women in Prison Committee members in New York, along with other panelists from Cornell University and beyond, presented From Protection to Punishment: Barriers to Justice for Domestic Violence Survivor-Defendants in New York State. In lower photo, standing, left to right: Hon. Laura Jacobson (President, New York State Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges); Hon. Betty Williams (Chair, Women in Prison Committee of the National Association of Women Judges); Hon. Debra A. James (Chair, Women in Prison Committee of the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges); Tamar Kraft-Stolar (Director, Correctional Association of New York, Women in Prison Project); Elizabeth Brundige (Associate Director, Avon Global Center for Women and Justice and Adjunct Professor of Law, Cornell Law School); Holly Maguigan (Professor of Clinical Law at New York University Law School); Hon. Marcy Kahn (Supreme Court, Criminal Branch, New York County).

GIVE A MOTHER'S DAY GIFT THAT MAKES
MOM FEEL GOOD WHILE IT DOES GOOD!

Donate $25 to the Storybook Project! This amount enables a child whose mother is in prison to receive a book and a CD recording of his or her mother reading him or her that book. In return, the project will send the mother of your choice (your mother, your wife, a friend...) a mother's day card letting her know that a donation has been made in her honor! Please make all checks payable to NAWJ-the storybook project. Your donation is tax deductible. Download flyer for more information.

Events

The International Association of Women Judges 2012 Bi-Annual Conference will take place May 2 - May 5 in London, United Kingdom.
NAWJ's 2012 Annual Conference will take place in Miami, Florida, November 7-11.
NAWJ's 2013 Annual Conference will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana
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.