NAWJ ANNOUNCES ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP FOR 2011-2012

(Newark, New Jersey) - The National Association of Women Judges swore in officers for its 2011-2012 year at its Annual Business Meeting on Saturday October 15th at Newark’s venerable Don Pepe. The forward looking announcement was made nearing the end of one of the Association’s most well attended conferences - Global Women’s Issues. NAWJ’s 33rd Annual Conference was held in downtown Newark, New Jersey from October 12-16, 2011, at venues including Rutgers School of Law-Newark, Seton Hall University Law School, Essex County Historic Courthouse, the District Court for the District of New Jersey, The Newark Club and the Hilton Hotel. The Annual Business Meeting recognizes the Association’s year of achievements, and formally inducts new Board members for the upcoming year.

All newly elected and continuing officers may be found in the list below.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES 2011-2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President
Hon. Amy L. Nechtem
Massachusetts Juvenile Court
Boston, MA

President-Elect
Hon. Joan V. Churchill
Immigration Court (Retired)
Chevy Chase, MD

Vice President, Districts
Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy
Civil Court, New York, NY

Vice President, Publications
Hon. Anna Blackburne-Rigsby 
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Washington, D.C.

Treasurer
Hon. Julie E. Frantz
Multnomah County Circuit Court
Portland, OR

Secretary
Hon. Maritza Segarra
Geary County District Court
Junction City, KS

Immediate Past President
Hon. Marjorie Laird Carter
Orange County Superior Court
Newport Beach, CA

Finance Committee Chair
Hon. Susan Criss
212th District Court of Galveston County
Galveston, TX

Projects Committee Chair
Hon. Sheri S. Roman
Appellate Division, 2nd Department
Kew Gardens, NY

DISTRICT DIRECTORS

District 1 (ME, MA, NH, PR, RI)
Hon. Ariane Vuono
Massachusetts Appeals Court 
Boston, MA

District 2 (CT, NY, VT)
Hon. Phyllis Orlikoff Flug
New York State Supreme Court
Jamaica, NY

District 3 (DE, NJ, PA, Virgin Islands)
Hon. Sandra Robinson
New Jersey Administrative Law Court
Newark, NJ

District 4 (DC, MD, VA)
Hon. Claudia Barber
District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings
Washington, D.C.

District 5 (FL, GA, NC, SC)
Hon. Lisa S. Walsh
Circuit Court for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Miami, FL

District 6 (AL, LA, MS, TN)
Hon. Mary Hotard Becnel
40th Judicial District Court
Edgard, LA

District 7 (MI, OH, WV)
Hon. Katherine L. Hansen
36th District Court, Detroit, MI

District 8 (IL, IN, KY)
TBD

District 9 (IA, MO, WI)
Hon. Anne Walsh Bradley
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Madison, WI

District 10 (KS, MN, NE, ND, SD)
Hon. Renee Worke
Minnesota Court of Appeals
St. Paul, MN

District 11 (AR, OK, TX)
Hon. Orlinda Naranjo
419th District Court
Austin, TX

District 12 (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)
Hon. Ann Scott Timmer
Court of Appeals, Division 1
Phoenix, AZ

District 13 (AK, HI, ID, MT, WA, OR)
Hon. Marilyn G. Paja
Kitsap County District Court
Port Orchard, WA

District 14 (CA, NV)
Hon. Diana Becton
Contra Costa Superior Court
Martinez, CA

SPECIAL DIRECTORS

International Director through 5/5/12
Hon. Sue Pai Yang
NJ Workers' Compensation Court
Newark, New Jersey

International Director beginning 5/6/12
Hon. Ann Walsh Bradley
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Madison, Wisconsin

ABA Delegate
Hon. Fernande R.V. Duffly
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Boston, MA

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About the National Association of Women Judges

NAWJ was founded by two visionary women, California Appeals Court Justices Joan Dempsey Klein and Vaino Spencer (Retired). Since 1979, the National Association of Women Judges has fought to preserve judicial independence, ensure equal justice and access to the courts for women, minorities and other historically disfavored groups, increase the numbers and advancement of women judges at all levels, and provide cutting-edge judicial education.

NAWJ’s diverse membership include women and men at all levels of the federal, state, trial, military and administrative judiciary from nearly every state in the nation, as well as attorneys, law clerks, and law clerks also committed to our mission of diversity and equality in the system of justice.

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 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 are committed to our efforts in educating judges on bioethics, elder abuse, sentencing of women offenders with substance abuse problems, conditions for women in prison, and the problems facing immigrants in our court system.

In addition to addressing these and other important issues, NAWJ, through our Conferences and events, provides an opportunity for judges to meet and discuss professional challenges and issues of mutual concern in an atmosphere of warm collegiality.

For more information, contact Marie Komisar 202-393-0222 ext 10.