NAWJ ANNOUNCES HON. JOAN V. CHURCHILL AS PRESIDENT AT ITS 34TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

At Annual Business Meeting of the National Association of Women Judges held during its 34th Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, members convened to elect Chevy Chase, Maryland resident Hon. Joan V. Churchill as President for its 2012-2013 year. The Conference took place at the Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel from November 7-11, 2012.

Read Judge Churchill’s Installation remarks below:

REMARKS OF INCOMING NAWJ PRESIDENT -- HON. JOAN V. CHURCHILL

Wow, this is exciting!!

What an honor and privilege it is for me to take the helm of The National Association of Women Judges. I am deeply moved by your trust and confidence. At the outset, I want to give special recognition and thanks to Judges Norma Shapiro, Linda Murnane, Sandra Robinson and Sue Yang for your enthusiasm and support.

I want to take a few minutes to share my vision for the coming year. But first I want to give a hearty thanks to Judges Lisa Walsh and Myriam Lehr, our Conference Co-Chairs and their entire Conference Planning Committee, the Friends Committee, and all who were involved with planning and executing such a spectacular annual meeting for us. Lisa, I remember back when you were a new District Director and I was VP for Districts, and you suggested a District Conference in Miami, and I said, how about making it an annual? And you did it!! What a wonderful conference you have pulled together, just over the top. And you are still smiling! Would the Miami conference planners all please stand. Let's give another round of applause for our super hero hosts in Miami.

This has been a wonderful year for NAWJ. I thank my predecessor Judge Amy Nechtem for positioning NAWJ in such a good place for launching the next year. The past presidents of NAWJ are all amazing women. I follow in your footsteps in awe.

NAWJ is such a special organization. I feel very passionate about it. NAWJ stands as a conscience and a challenge for something enduring: the importance of judicial diversity, inclusiveness and equal access to Justice for All. Sometimes the question is asked – we've all heard it: "Why is a woman's organization needed? Hasn't the issue been solved?" The importance of what we stand for: diversity, inclusiveness and equal access is not an issue that can be solved out of existence. It requires constant nurture. The role of NAWJ is an enduring one, an ongoing challenge to society to ensure that equal access to justice is maintained, and that our judicial system is the best that it can be.

Let me just say that I consider our name, National Association of Women Judges, to be something of a misnomer. We are not a woman's organization in the usual sense. We are not just for women, or even just for gender diversity. We are for equal access to and justice for ALL. I have chosen "Justice for All" as my theme for the year.

The theme "Justice for All" embodies what we are all about. From our focus on the barriers to justice for immigrants, language issues in the court system, women in prison, juveniles in detention, juvenile justice, victims of domestic violence, victims of human trafficking, outreach to the economically disadvantaged to pursue legal careers, and outreach to foreign judges from countries suffering violence, poverty or oppressive regimes, our programs demonstrate our commitment to a fairer, truer system of justice.

Some of my specific objectives for the coming year include:

• Increasing our membership, especially among male judges and Tribal Judges;
• Strengthening our ties with IAWJ, our international affiliate, in support of its work with judges all around the world;
• Pursuing an enhanced focus on prevention of human trafficking, a modern day form of slavery;
• Presentation of NAWJ programs in every District; and
• Updating and enhancing our website with resources of benefit to our members.

These goals will be accomplished by the work of our Districts and Committees. There are signup sheets in the hallway by the registration desk for those of you who would like to work on a committee or committees. And let me invite you all to the 2013 Midyear, which will be in Washington, D.C. May 2-4. Mark your calendars. All are invited.

Make no mistake -- NAWJ faces ongoing challenges, not only to our relevance as previously mentioned, but in regard to our membership and our finances. I know that all of you here share my passion for NAWJ. I look to you to work with me on meeting these challenges. The out-pouring of support that I received encouraging me to take on the Presidency, and the offers of help and support that I've already received for the coming year are just fantastic. They give me the courage to meet our internal challenges, so that, ultimately, NAWJ remains as the challenger to the outside, challenging society to be the best it can.

As we make the transition to a new year, let us recharge our batteries to go forward with renewed energy and passion to promote diversity, equal access to justice and justice for all.

Thank You. I love you All.

Joan V. Churchill

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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.