NAWJ SIXTH ANNUAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES

Washington, D.C., July 7, 2011 – The National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) held its Sixth Annual Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues at noon in the Cannon House Office Building to discuss important issues pertaining to women and children.

NAWJ President Marjorie Laird Carter judge of the California Superior Court presided over the Caucus, in conjunction with Caucus co-chairs, Hon. Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Representative Gwendolynne Moore, Wisconsin and Representative Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming. President Carter said, “This Caucus gives judges and congresswomen a unique opportunity to discuss issues of mutual concern which effect all women and children and to learn from each other. Organizations like NAWJ continue to be important in this ongoing process.”

Judge Joan Churchill (Ret) Immigration Court, discussed the importance for all judges to be aware of immigration issues that impact litigants before them. She referenced the fact that immigration is controlled by federal law and that immigration judges are bound by the law as enacted by Congress. She mentioned that some terminology in the Immigration and Nationality Act is susceptible of different interpretations and that if greater consistency is desired, it is up to Congress to change the law.

Judge Vanessa Ruiz, of the District of Columbia’s Court of Appeals, discussed the growing issue of language access in the courts—roughly 20% of people in the United States, American citizens included, speak a language other than English in their homes. Although courts aim to have interpreters, there is a concern that the translation product is only a fragmented version of what is actually said by the non-English speaking party. Language access is a growing problem that ignites tension with decreasing court-funding and she stressed, something the congress should be aware of in future appropriations.

The Honorable Susan Carbon, Director of the Office of Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice noted that 14% of all homicides in the United States are domestic homicides—for each victim of that percentage, nine more victims were so severely injured they were near death. Further, she noted “these domestic violence crimes are almost always predictable and therefore preventable.” Promoting legislation to institute predictive programs is at the forefront of the Office of Violence against Women’s agenda.

Representative Ann Beurkle of New York’s 25th District introduced an assortment of trafficking issues, ranging from children sent away by misinformed and desperate parents, entire families enslaved in India, and all too frequent occurrence of young girls from around the world promised acting and modeling careers who become, enslaved and subjugated to profane realities.

Approximately 65 attendees including judges from across the nation, congressional members, attorneys and law school students. NAWJ would also like to give special thanks to the State Justice Institute, without which this event would not have been possible. Additional sponsors of the Caucus include: Arent Fox LLP; Dickstein Shapiro LLP; Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.; Hunton & Williams LLP; White & Case LLP; and the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.

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