HUNDREDS ATTEND "MEET ME IN MIAMI" NAWJ'S 34TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO EXAMINE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEGAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND HEALTH ISSUES

After two years of planning and leadership, 2012 Annual Conference Co-Chairs Hon. Lisa S. Walsh and Hon. Myriam Lehr, both judges in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit, successfully gathered judges, attorneys, legislators, physicians, authors and educators to explore national and international legal, economic, social and health issues at the "Meet Me in Miami"conference in Miami, Florida, November 7-11, 2012. The conference was held at the Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel and attracted over 500 persons, 40 of whom were international judges from 27 different countries.

The beautiful coastal shoreline, within view and just a few steps away from the conference's host hotel, was no match for the energy and enthusiasm of NAWJ's increasingly infectious annual get together at venues including the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., Courthouse for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the inviting residence of U.S. Appeals Court Judge Rosemary Barkett and, for some, the Homestead Correctional Institution in nearby Florida City.

The Annual Business Meeting saw the swearing-in and recognition of old and new NAWJ leadership (see 2012-2013 Board of Directors listing further in this Update) and the adoption of a resolution, Urging Expeditious Filling of Federal Judicial Vacancies.

This year's Awards Banquet recognized the accomplishments of longtime NAWJ members and friends. The 2012 Joan Dempsey Klein NAWJ Honoree of the Year Award was presented to NAWJ Past President Hon. Fernande R.V. Duffly. The 2012 Florence K. Murray Award honored attorney Roberta Liebenberg, Esq., who also co-chaired NAWJ's 2007 Annual Conference Friends Committee. The 2012 Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award recognized NAWJ Past President Hon. Dana Fabe. The 2012 Mattie Belle Davis Award was presented to Hon. Sandra Robinson, a former District 3 Director.

The myriad of inviting activities would not have been possible without the additional energy and dedication of the Conference Planning Committee including: Education Committee members Judge Laurel Isicoff, Judge Cindy Lederman, Judge Rosemary Barkett, Professor Donna Coker, Judge Jeri Beth Cohen, Edward H. Davis, Jr., Chief Justice Dana Fabe, Judge Ellen Leesfield, Judge Chris McAliley, Judge Kathleen Mulligan, Professor Amy Ronner, Judge Mary Schroeder and Professor Tara Twomey; Finance Committee members Judge Gladys Perez and Maureen Jaeger Walsh; Speakers Committeemembers Judge Gladys Perez and Laura Morilla; International Judges Committee members Judge Mercedes Bach, Judge Judy Chirlin (Retired), Judge Rosemary Barkett, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, Judge Beverly Cutler (Retired), Judge Beverly Sherman Nash, Judge Gladys Perez, Judge Geraldine Sparrow and Judge Carolyn Temin; Social Events Committee members Judge Nushin Sayfie, Judge Lourdes Simon and Amy Rosenberg; Volunteers Committee members Judge Marcia Caballero and Judge Andrea Wolfson; Mentor-Mentee Committee member Judge Monica Gordo; Reception Host Committee members Judge Joan A. Lenard, Assistant Dean Georgina Angones, Associate Dean Raquel Matas, Jacqueline Becerra, Judge Marcia Caballero, Judge Barbara Lagoa, Bruce Lehr and LillyAnn Sanchez; Security Committee members Judge Spencer Multack and Judge Rodolfo "Rudy" Ruiz; Excursions Committee members Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez and Judge Valerie Manno Schurr;Women in Prison Committee member Judge Simone Marstiller.

Friends Committee Law Firm Partners Chairs Elizabeth Hernandez, Esq. of Akerman Senterfitt, Linda M. Leali, Esq. of White & Case LLP and Detra P. Shaw-Wilder, Esq. of Koyzak Tropin & Throckmorton, and Corporate Partners Good Government Alliance Chair Mikki Canton of AsiaAmericana International LLC exhibited fundraising talents which matched the vision of the conference chairs. The Committee raised over $200,000 from approximately 50 law firms, corporations, universities and individual contributors to support conference activities.

In addition, we acknowledge and greatly appreciate the many volunteers and exceptional guest speakers who joined in making the experience in Miami another NAWJ original.

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About the National Association of Women Judges
The National Association of Women Judges is a non-profit organization of more than 1,250 federal, state, administrative, tribal and military judges from across the country. For 34 years, NAWJ has served as the nation's leading voice for jurists dedicated to ensuring equal justice and access to the courts for women and other historically disfavored groups, providing judicial education on cutting-edge issues, and increasing the numbers and advancement of women.

For more information contact NAWJ Executive Director Marie Komisar 202-393-0222 ext. 10