NAWJ Monthly Update January 2015
Written by National Association of Women Judges|January 01, 2015|Monthly Update Archive
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Welcome to 2015!
January is a time of renewed energy. The month is named after the Roman god Janus, the god of new
beginnings and transitions. It is derived from the Latin word 'ianua' which means 'the door.' For
NAWJ, it is a time to pause for a moment to reflect, to take stock, and then focus on what tasks lie
ahead to further our mission driven objectives, and in so doing identify the toolkits we have assembled
and the strategies in place to walk through those doors.
It is an exciting time. Committees are in place and have already begun meeting, the fourteen districts
through the leadership of their directors and the recently instituted state chairs have events and
projects planned, and our greatly valued Resource Board members are promoting our mission's goals and
participating as program panelists. A robust Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference set for April in
Chicago, a city which resonates with the kinetic energy of the times, is well underway, and the planning
for the 2016 IAWJ Biennial Conference in Washington, D.C. being hosted by NAWJ is in full gear. The growth
in projects, the breadth and depth of cutting-edge substantive programming, and the expansion in the conference
offerings that NAWJ has taken on during my time on the board is impressive, exciting, impactful, and accordingly
creates a full agenda for our staff and the membership who are actively engaged.
NAWJ has much of which to be proud. In addition to our signature project, Color of Justice, the FairGirls
program was introduced last year, and even more recently, the Diamond in the Rough project, all programs
which are designed to expose and engage girls of all ages, particularly in impoverished areas, to the
possibility of becoming members and leaders in our legal profession. Human Trafficking, a national and global
issue affecting an array of vulnerable populations, and now a stand-alone committee alongside Immigration,
continues as a mainstay at NAWJ conferences which garners significant partner and corporate sponsorship. The
Informed Voters/Fair Judges Project, which began last year, impresses upon the voting electorate the
importance of informed decision making to ensure fair and impartial courts, and broadens the work of NAWJ
under the umbrella of the Judicial Independence committee.
One of the highly touted presentations from our 2014 Annual Conference in San Diego, presented by NAWJ
leaders and prominent Resource Board members, was devoted to developing a strategic approach to permeating
the composition of our legal bodies, which have appointment power, to broaden the efforts to increase the
number of women and minorities in law related and judicial leadership positions. Exploration of issues
through multimedia and performance presentations, such as examining bias and intolerance through the
compelling one act play, Anne and Emmett, is another significant endeavor NAWJ will continue this year.
And then there is the ongoing vital work of the Women in Prison Committee, the Success Inside and Out,
Storybook, MentorJet and History Book projects, and the all-important Web Redesign Committee ... and the
list (totaling 22 committees and projects) goes on and on ...
January is the month to get in gear and take action, as the year has a way of all too quickly evaporating as
spring rolls into summer, and the early October Annual Conference in beautiful Salt Lake City will be upon us.
Thanks to all of you who agreed to chair a committee or project this year, and to all who comprise the
membership of those committees.
And, in January, as we exercise daily our judgment and apply the rule of law to ensure equality in our
courts which we strive to make accessible to all, we are reminded in these challenging times of the words
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birth we honor this month, that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere."
PRESIDENT'S CALENDAR
Earlier this year GEICO joined NAWJ in sponsoring of the 2014 Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference
in Washington, D.C. They are continuing their relationship with NAWJ as a Silver Landmark Sponsor.
Part of NAWJ and GEICO's partnership will provide insurance discounts to NAWJ members. Contact
GEICO for a free quote on auto insurance to see how much you could be saving. And don't forget to
mention your NAWJ affiliation; you could qualify for an exclusive member savings opportunity.
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