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June 2012
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In This Issue:
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you well and looking forward to some summer fun!
Early May was an exciting time for many of our members who along with our international
sisters attended the International Association of Women Judges Biennial Conference from
May 2-6, in London. There were some 600 Judges from 50 countries. (Please see below IAWJ
Executive Director Joan Winship's account of this fabulous event.)
NAWJ was proudly represented by over 80 judges, the most from any of the delegations around the
world. During the opening ceremonies, attendees stood to the applause of the crowd as their Nation's
name was announced, much like rituals in the Olympics. It was thrilling to witness this event and
stand proudly for the United States. The warmth, respect and friendship were palpable, rising with
the announcement of each representative nation. The IAWJ Conference was a chance to reaffirm our
commitment to shared global missions, addressing urgent issues of human trafficking, domestic
violence, safety for women in prisons, judicial safety and independence and child welfare issues.
Graciously hosted by the United Kingdom Association of Woman Judges, a chapter led by President Lady
Brenda Hale, the NAWJ delegation was treated to a variety of social events in majestic, historic
venues. We were proud to host a reception along with the Canadian and United Kingdom delegations at
the stunning Law Society's Hall . The closing Gala was held at the City of London Guildhall that was
much like stepping into The Harry Potter Hogwarts School dining hall. The Queen will dine there during
her Jubilee Celebration. Sensational! Please watch for a full account of the IAWJ Conference in the
next issue of Counterbalance with lots of pictures.
I was proud to represent NAWJ later in the month at the Midyear Meeting of the American Judges
Association in Nashville, Tennessee. Our associations share like missions of enhancing the
administration of justice, access to justice, judicial independence and judicial education. We hope
to collaborate with AJA on future initiatives.
From there, I was delighted to be in Miami for the another successful "Meet Me In Miami" Conference
Planning Committee reception hosted by White & Case LLP, and well attended by sponsors from the legal,
academic and corporate communities. Congratulations to Judge Lisa Walsh and Judge Myriam Lehr, and
Committee Chairs for their keen eye to every detail ensuring what we know will be another phenomenal
conference. Make your reservations now! The dynamic New Orleans Conference Chairs Justice Bernette
Joshua Johnson and Judge Mary Hotard Becnel are also actively preparing for your visit to the Big
Easy in 2013.
And we don't stop there...sights are already set on Conference 2014 in beautiful San Diego led by
exceptional Chairs Judge Tamila Ipema and Judge Margie Woods who hosted an exciting kickoff
reception last week.
Thank you all for your commitment and hard work in making each of our beloved conferences outstanding.
It is my privilege and honor to serve as your President.
Please make every effort to join us for the NAWJ/Congressional Caucus Meeting on July 10th.
(For more information see below.) Come early for the July 9th reception generously hosted by
Fulbright & Jaworski.
I look forward to seeing you there.
With my best wishes,
Amy
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Keeping Safe, Keeping Well
IAWJ's 2012 Biennial Conference
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The IAWJ's 11th Biennial International Conference was a tremendous success! Hosted by the
United Kingdom Association of Women Judges (UKAWJ) and convened by IAWJ President, Lady Brenda Hale,
the conference focused on the theme: Keeping Safe,
Keeping Well. Over the course of the conference, participants discussed a wide
range of topics ranging from women, work and health, incarcerated women, human trafficking
and forced marriage, sextortion, judicial health and safety, violence and the problem-solving
court, services for victims of sexual violence, and women and girls as armed combatants.
The Opening Ceremony included welcomes from such UK dignitaries as the Lord Chancellor,
the Lord Chief Justice, the Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat,
the Vice-President of the Law Society and the President of the Supreme Court. The Chief
Justices of Canada, Ghana and Jamaica, the Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Argentina
and the Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, facilitated by Professor Judith
Resnik of Yale Law School, opened the conference with a plenary session on Judicial
Leadership. Along with wonderful special evening events, members also attended meetings
of their regions where they elected their new regional representatives to the IAWJ's Board of Directors.
Additionally, for the first time, the IAWJ launched a new forum for judges who have served
or are serving on international courts and tribunals. The final day brought a Closing
Keynote Speech by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem ('Navi')
Pillay, a former IAWJ member and former judge from South Africa, the International Criminal
Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. We were honored to have her with
us. The Gala Dinner attended by nearly 700 persons and held at the lovely City of London
Guildhall brought an inspiring and impressive end to IAWJ's 11th Biennial Conference on
Saturday evening!
Enthusiastic thanks go to the UKAWJ, its Coordinating Committee under the leadership of
Lady Hale, their conference organizers, and IAWJ staff who worked hard to plan and put on
the conference for our members! Their efforts, dedication, time and creativity were
certainly appreciated by all!
Many thanks to all of you who were able to join us in London! It was wonderful to see so
many, and to have the opportunities to network and share with each other good times and
important ideas and information. For those of you who were unable to join us, we hope that
you will be able to share some of these experiences via information on the IAWJ website at:
www.iawj.org. The IAWJ is working to get
the Conference Program and the various presentations and wonderful photographs up on our
website. We anticipate that we will be able to do so within the next week.
With the enthusiasm of so many coming off our wonderful time in London, we encourage you to
begin planning for the IAWJ's 12th Biennial International Conference that will be held in
Arusha, Tanzania from May 6-9, 2014! We anticipate warm hospitality, amazing natural beauty,
a challenging substantive program, and another superb IAWJ program for all!
Joan D. Winship, Executive Director
International Association of Women Judges
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"Meet Me In Miami"
NAWJ 34th Annual Conference
November 7 - 11, 2012
Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Register online or download the
registration form to register.
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Room Reservations: (800) 319-5354
NAWJ Rates: Standard Room $199/night, plus applicable taxes
Resort Tower Room $219/night, plus applicable taxes
Ocean Tower Room with Ocean View $229/night plus applicable taxes
CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS
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Judge Lisa S. Walsh
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Judge Myriam Lehr
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Education Committee
Chairs: Judge Laurel Isicoff • Judge Cindy Lederman
Members: Judge Rosemary Barkett • Judge Professor Donna Coker • Judge Jeri Beth Cohen
Edward Davis • Justice Dana Fabe • Judge Ellen Leesfield • Judge Chris McAliley
Judge Kathleen Mulligan • Professor Amy Ronner • Judge Mary Schroeder
Professor Tara Twomey
Finance Committee
Chair: Judge Gladys Perez • Member: Maureen Jaeger
Speakers Committee
Chair: Judge Gladys Perez • Member: Laura Morilla
International Judges Committee
Chair: Judge Mercedes Bach • Member: Judge Judy Chirlin
Social Events Committee
Chairs: Judge Nushin Sayfie • Judge Lourdes Simon •
Member: Amy Rosenberg
Volunteers Committee
Chair: Judge Marcia Caballero • Member: Judge Andrea Wolfson
Mentor-Mentee Committee
Chair: Judge Monica Gordo
Reception Host Committee
Chairs: Judge Joan A. Lenard • Assistant Dean Georgina Angones • Associate Dean
Raquel Matas •
Members: Jacqueline Becerra • Bruce Lehr • LillyAnn Sanchez
Security Committee
Chairs: Judge Spencer Multack • Judge Rodolfo "Rudy" Ruiz
Excursions Committee
Chairs: Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez • Judge Valerie Manno Schurr
FRIENDS COMMITTEE
Law Firm Partners Co-Chairs
Elizabeth Hernandez, Akerman Senterfitt
Linda M. Leali, White & Case LLP
Detra P. Shaw-Wilder, Koyzak Tropin & Throckmorton
Corporate Partners Good Government Alliance Chair
Mikki Canton, AsiaAmericana International LLC
ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPONSORS
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CORPORATE PARTNER GOOD GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE
Presenting Platinum Partners
United Automobile Insurance Company
Gold Partners
Baptist Health South Florida
Codina Partners
Silver Partners
Leon Medical Centers
Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLC
Piedra & Associates
The Thornton Family
TYLin International HJ Ross
Waste Management
Bronze Partners
All American Containers, Inc.
AT&T Florida
The Biltmore Hotel
Braman Automotive Group
Ambassador Paul Cejas, PLC Investments
CM Consulting Group Corp.
Coca-Cola
DYL Group
Esserman Motors
IBEW L.U. 349
Medina Capital Partners
Miami Marlins
Patino & Associates
The Thornton Family
Alliance Partners
ABC/Svinga
Gabriel S. Diaz-Samiento, CPA
Alan Eichenbaum, Esq.
Florida Power & Light
Stakeholders
The Honorable Tomas Regalado and The City of Miami
Dr. Eduardo Padron, President, Miami Dade College
Mrs. Belinda Meruelo
A.J. Barranco, Jr.
Moet-Hennesy / Siboney Wine & Spirits
Chef Paella
Willy Bermello, BAP
Carrolton School of The Sacred Heart
Alvarez, Carbonell, Feltman, Jimenez & Gomez
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LEGAL FRIENDS
Premier Sponsors
Pending
Gold Sponsors
Akerman Senterfitt LLP
LexisNexis
Silver Sponsors
Astigarraga Davis
Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
Broad & Cassel
Carlton Fields
Gray Robinson, P.A.
Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Hunton & Williams LLP
Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A.
Merrill Lynch Global Wealth & Investment Management, The MAB Group
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.
White & Case LLP
Bronze Sponsors
Avila, Rodriguez, Hernandez, Mena & Ferri LLP
Berger Singerman
Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP
Colson Hicks Eidson
The Ferraro Law Firm
Grossman Roth, P.A.
Higer, Lichter, Givner
Holland & Knight LLP
Kaufman, Rossin & Co.
Podhurst Orseck, P.A.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
TotalBank
Amigos Sponsors
Bankruptcy Bar Association
Damian & Valori LLP
Elser Foster-Morales
Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions
ESB Mediation Services
Fabricant Morton & Company, PA
Gamba & Lombana, P.A.
GlassRatner Advisory & Capital Group
Kubicki Draper
Robert Levy
Lott & Fischer
McDonald Hopkins LLC
Meland Russin & Budwick, P.A.
Mestre Law
Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers
Pathman Lewis, LLP
Rivero Mestre, LLP
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey
Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza, Cole & Boniske, P.L.
In-Kind Sponsors
Daily Business Review
Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant
Hon. Joan Lenard
Hon. Federico Moreno
University of Miami School of Law
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012
Welcome International Judges
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2012
2011-2012 NAWJ Board of Directors Meeting
MENTOR-MENTEE RECEPTION
for First-time Attendees and International Judges
WELCOME RECEPTION
Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Federal Courthouse for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012
Welcome and Opening Remarks
PLENARY SESSION - The Independence of the Judiciary
This panel will address: What are the problems facing independence of the judiciary? What
can we do about it? What ARE we doing about it? What are effective strategies for judicial
independence? What is happening in other countries?
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON
Lisa Bloom, author of
Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World.
CONCURRENT PROGRAMS:
Professor Judith Resnik, Author of "Representing Justice"
Nations in Transition
This panel will look at the challenges that women lawyers and judges are facing as the
world around them changes. We will address issues in the Middle and Far East, as well as
those issues much closer to home in the Caribbean and Venezuela.
Cuba in Transition
Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
A discussion about a new method for reducing stress and making us more effective judges.
Curbing Access to Justice
Equal justice is an idea that we have long striven for in American society. But, is the
economic crisis, with its strained government budgets, court cutbacks and loss of legal
aid funding, turning back the clock on the progress we've made in reaching the goal of
equal justice for all? Join us for this panel in which we will discuss how the financial
squeeze is impacting access to justice at the individual court level and in society in general.
Professor Sally Kenney, Author of "Gender and Judging"
EVENING RECEPTION
Hosted by University of Miami Law School and the Cuban American Bar Association "Noche de Salsa."
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2012
CONCURRENT SESSIONS:
The Economic Crisis: Its Hidden Impact
Beyond banks and board rooms, the global economic downturn is having a profound effect on the
everyday lives of people around the world. Societies, too, are being tested as the engines
of economic growth sputters. This panel will explore the less visible consequences of the
financial crisis and its impact on people and communities.
Women's Health
A panel of doctors from the University of Miami School of Medicine will discuss the aging
woman and the physical and psychological issues about which we should be aware.
Impact of Laws on Other Decisions
This panel will discuss issues relating to bankruptcy, immigration and other laws that may
or will impact criminal, family and commercial cases.
So You Think You Have a Book in You?
Someone "in the business" will share the secret (and not so secret) guidance on what it
takes to write a book and get it published.
PLENARY SESSION - Bringing Human Rights Home
This panel will examine what is new and what is happening with respect to the use of
human rights norms in the domestic (US) context.
FRIENDS LUNCHEON
A Conversation with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Congresswoman Debbie
Wasserman Schultz.
PLENARY SESSION - The Power and Reach of the Internet
What are the existing privacy laws? What are expectations of privacy? How do those
existing privacy laws fit in with the current realities, cyberstalking, and available
remedies? How do the internet and social networking impact the judiciary and the
ethics of judges or their clerks in researching information about cases, jury
members, lawyers, etc.?
Optional Excursion Women in Prison Project to Homestead Correctional Institution with
ArtSpring.
ArtSpring provides therapeutic programming and re-entry assistance to women in
prison in Florida. They will be escorting our members on this optional excursion to
Homestead Correctional Institution.
EVENING RECEPTION at Host Hotel Eden Roc Renaissance
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2012
NAWJ Annual Business Meeting and Swearing in of New Officers
PLENARY SESSION -- Judging in an International Community
This panel will address what judges can do and should communicate with one another,
formally and informally, regarding cross border issues or simultaneous proceedings.
We will use Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code, which explicitly authorizes such
communication, as a spring board for what could be used as a model in general business cases.
EVENING RECEPTION at Host Hotel Eden Roc Renaissance
NAWJ ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012
Farewell Breakfast
INTERNATIONAL JUDGES' SCHOLARSHIPS
The National Association of Women Judges International Judges' Scholarship program is funded by
Robert M. Kaufman and The New York Community Trust. It makes available support for individuals who
want to apply for an award to attend the NAWJ 34th Annual Conference. Consistent with NAWJ's guiding
principles, the purpose of the International Judges' Scholarship is to bring together judicial officers
from around the world to share knowledge and experiences to promote and ensure fairness and gender
equality in the judicial systems of all nations.
Available Funding
Individuals may apply for an award to attend the NAWJ 34th Annual Conference. Allowable expenses
include total economy (coach) airfare and lodging costs (shared rooms). Alternative funds may be available
for registration fees if needed.
Eligibility
Judges from all countries, other than the United States, are eligible to apply for a scholarship.
Closing Date
The application deadline is June 15, 2012.
Submission Requirements
To apply, download and complete the
application form. Send to:
Craig Evans
National Association of Women Judges
1341 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Fax: (202) 393-0125
Email: nawj@nawj.org
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NAWJ Nominating Committee Seeks Nominations for
2012-2013 NAWJ Board of Directors Positions
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The Nominating Committee of the National Association of Women Judges seeks nominees
for the following positions in the 2012-2013 term:
President-Elect
Vice President for Districts
Vice President for Publications
Secretary
Treasurer
ABA Delegate
The duties of these positions are set out in the Bylaws, Art. X (Duties of Officers)
and Art. VIII (Representatives of Other Organizations.)
NAWJ Bylaws:
"The Nominating Committee shall present at least
one (l) nominee for each officer's position. A nomination for each officer's
position also may be submitted in writing to the Nominating Committee by petition
of no less than nine (9) voting members of the organization at least sixty (60) days
prior to the Annual Meeting. The list of nominees for each position designated by
the Nominating Committee and by petition shall be circulated to the voting membership
at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. Nominations for all officer
positions may also be made by voting members from the floor at the Annual Meeting
provided such nominees' names have previously been submitted to the Nominating
Committee and the Nominating Committee has failed to endorse their candidacy."
The international director position is filled in odd number years, Art VIII sec. 2,
the ABA delegate position is filled in even numbered years, Art. VIII sec. 1; the
newly elected ABA delegate assumes office "the following odd numbered year at the
conclusion of the ABA meeting." In this case, after the ABA annual meeting in August 2013.
We invite you to nominate yourself or another member (with consent) for any of these offices.
Only voting members (current members who are either sitting or retired member
judges) in good standing are eligible to hold office and remain subject to the
canons of judicial conduct.
Please submit a letter stating the roles the nominee has played in NAWJ activities,
including particular accomplishments you wish to bring to the committee's attention,
and the nominee's curriculum vitae. The letter also should include a paragraph on the
strengths the nominee would bring to the leadership of the organization, such as, for
example, past financial experience for the position of treasurer. Current officers
seeking a different office must submit a letter of nomination. The President-Elect
must have served a term as Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary, or as Chair of
the Projects Committee, the Resource Development Committee, or the Finance Committee.
Candidates for the position of President-Elect should also address their plans to
continue to build on NAWJ's existing programs and implement NAWJ's Long-Range
Strategic Plan (2007-2012), which can be found at NAWJ's website.
Individual nominations and nominations by petition must be submitted to the Nominating
Committee by Tuesday, July 25, 2012.
Please address letters to:
National Association of Women Judges
ATTN: Hon. Marjorie Laird Carter
1341 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 4.2
Washington, D.C. 20036
Fax: (202) 393-0125 or E-mail: nawj@nawj.org
MEMBERS OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
Hon. Marjorie Laird Carter, California Superior Court, Chair
Hon. Bernice Donald, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Hon. Fernande R.V. Duffly, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Hon. Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court
Hon. Carol Feinman, New York City Civil Court, New York
Hon. Brenda Stith Loftin, St. Louis County Circuit Court, Missouri
Hon. Barbara Madsen, Washington Supreme Court
Hon. Judith McConnell, California Court of Appeals
Hon. Bea Ann Smith, Third Court of Appeals, Texas (Retired)
Hon. J. E. Sullivan, U.S. Department of Transportation
Hon. Vanessa Ruiz, District of Columbia Court of Appeals (Retired)
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NAWJ Awards Committee Seeks Nominations
for Annual Honorable Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year Award
and Florence K. Murray Awards
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The NAWJ Awards Committee requests nominations for the Honorable Joan Dempsey
Klein Honoree of the Year Award and for the Florence K. Murray Award. The
deadline for submitting nominations for these two awards is July 15. To assist
you in nominating a deserving candidate for these two important awards, sample
forms are attached. Click
here for KLEIN Award. Click
here for MURRAY Award.
To review a list of past award winners, click
here.
Awards will be given out at the 34th Annual Conference to be held in Miami, Florida on Saturday November 10, 2012.
Please submit the completed nomination no later than July 25th to
mkomisar@nawj.org or by mail or fax to:
Marie Komisar
Executive Director
National Association of Women Judges
1341 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036-1834
Fax: 202-393-0125
AWARDS COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Hon. Brenda Loftin, St. Louis County Circuit Court, Chair
Hon. Katherine Bacal, San Diego Superior Court, California
Hon. Claudia Barber, District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings
Hon. Diana Becton, Contra Costa Superior Court, California
Hon. Beverly Cutler, Alaska Court System, 3rd Judicial District (Retired)
Hon. Diana Eagon, Hennepin County District Court (Retired), Florida
Hon. Phyllis Keaty, Third Circuit Court of Appeal, Louisiana
Hon. Barbara Madsen, Washington Supreme Court
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NAWJ to Meet the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues on July 10th on Capitol Hill
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For the seventh consecutive year, NAWJ will meet with members of the Congressional
Caucus for Women's Issues (Congressional Women's Caucus) on Capitol Hill, Tuesday July
10th at Noon. The meeting with the Congressional Women's Caucus represents an opportunity
to continue collaboration between NAWJ and the Caucus, which began in 2006.
NAWJ President Judge Amy L. Nechtem, along with Meeting Co-Chair the Hon. Lauren Best
Leeker, Retired U.S. Army Trial Judge and current Administrative Counsel to the Executive
Committee of the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., will join Caucus Co-Chairs
Representative Cynthia Lummis (WY) and Representative Gwen Moore (WI) in convening this
year's meeting. Child welfare and human trafficking will be among the topics discussed.
Click
here to view a list of current Congressional Caucus Members, and Task Force Chairs.
Additional expected speakers include:
- Judge Virginia Kendall, U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois,
co-author of Child Exploitation and Trafficking: Examining the Global Challenges
and U.S. Responses
- Sara Devine, Esq., Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
- Bradley Myles, President and CEO at the Polaris Project, and
- Anya McMurray, Senior Counsel in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Office.
In a gracious extension of hospitality, Meeting Co-Chair Hon. Lauren Best Leeker and
the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski will host a cocktail reception on Monday evening
for all meeting attendees, July 9th in the Fulbright Conference Center located at 801
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Please RSVP to Bianca Bourgeois at 866-385-2744. See RSVP
information in their announcement below.
ALL NAWJ MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. RSVP to Lavinia Cousin at
202-393-0222 (or lcousin@nawj.org) by July 1st.
For those attending the meeting from out of town, NAWJ will hold a small block of
rooms at The Fairfax Hotel at Embassy Row for $199/night. Rooms are being taken
quickly. You are encouraged to call the hotel at 1-888-627-8439 and make your
reservation as soon as possible. The Fairfax will hold rooms until June 7 or
until the block is no longer available. (Attendees are responsible for their
own travel expenses.)
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Fulbright & Jaworksi L.L.P. to Host Special Welcome Reception
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In a gracious extension of hospitality, Meeting Co-Chair Hon. Lauren Best Leeker and the
law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski will host a cocktail reception on the evening of July 9th,
in the Fulbright Conference Center located at 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The Conference
Center includes lovely balcony views overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Archives,
and the Navy Memorial.
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Justice Shireen Avis Fisher Elected President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
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Vermonter and NAWJ member Justice Shireen Avis Fisher of the United States
has been elected to a one-year term as Presiding Judge of the Appeals Chamber,
a post which makes her President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. She
succeeds Justice Jon Kamanda of Sierra Leone, who has served as President
since 2009. Click
here to read the Court's press release.
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Color of Justice to Celebrate Ten-Year Anniversary
September 14, 2012
Beltrami County Courthouse in Bemidji, Minnesota
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The Color of Justice program will celebrate its
tenth year by presenting a program to Native American young women on September 14, 2012,
at the Beltrami County Courthouse in Bemidji, Minnesota. The
Color of Justice Celebration planning committee,
chaired by District 10 Director Judge Renee Worke, invites you to be a part of the program
as a panelist, presenter or mentor to the students.
A block of rooms has been reserved for Thursday and Friday nights (September 13-15) under
reservation number 85125944 at the Hampton Inn Bermidji. The hotel rate is $159.00.
However, the planning team is trying to get a government rate for participants. Delta
Airlines services the Bemidji Airport.
Please let us know if you can attend by contacting Lavinia Cousin at
lcousin@nawj.org.
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San Francisco Color of Justice
Program Honored by the National Conference of Women Bar Associations
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San Francisco's presentation of the Color of Justice
Program won recognition from the National Conference of Women Bar Associations (NCWBA).
The Award will be presented in Chicago at the NCWBA summit on August 3, 2012. The award
jointly recognized NAWJ and the legal associations co-sponsoring the program: Queen's Bench
Bar Association of the San Francisco Bay Area; and the California Women Lawyers.
Longtime program supporter and presenter, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Charlene
Padovani Kiesselbach, nominated her team's program production for the award. The Queen's
Bench Bar Association of the San Francisco Bay Area and the California Women Lawyers have
been consistent, committed co-sponsors and collaborators. The award is only open to
women bar associations, so in order to qualify for the award, the nomination needed to
be submitted in the name of the women bar associations sponsoring the program along with
NAWJ. Judge Charlene Padovani Kiesselbach will join her bar association planning team
to accept the award. Judge Charlene Padovani Kiesselbach has presented the
Color of Justice program for the last two years
to 160 high school students in San Francisco.
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SAVE THE DATE
2013 Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference
May 2-4, 2013
Washington, D.C.
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NAWJ President-Elect, the Honorable Joan V. Churchill, and a planning team will
hold NAWJ's 2013 Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference in Washington, DC.
Highlights will include a joint meeting with members of Congressional Caucus for
Women's Issues on Thursday, May 2nd, and a discussion forum and reception at the
United States Supreme Court Building on Friday, May 3nd. The NAWJ Board of
Directors will meet on Saturday, May 4, 2013. More information will follow.
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Events
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2012
The Edna G. Parker Award Banquet and Reception to honor the 2012 award recipient,
the Hon. Cathy Hollenberg Serrette, and new and recently elevated judges, will take
place June 21, 2012 at The Tayloe House in Washington, DC.
Color of Justice Ten-Year Celebration will take
place September 14, 2012, at the Beltrami County Courthouse in Bemidji, Minnesota.
District Two's Conference, Fantastic Fall Weekend, will take place in Mystic Seaport,
Connecticut on Saturday, October 20.
NAWJ's 34th Annual Conference will take place in Miami, Florida, November 7 - 11 at the
Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach.
2013
NAWJ Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference will take place May 2-4 in Washington, D.C.
NAWJ's 35th Annual Conference will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2014
The 2014 International Association of Women Judges Bi-Annual Conference will take place in Tanzania
May 6 - 9.
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NAWJ
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Mission Statement:
The National Association of Women Judges' mission is to:
Promote the judicial role of protecting the rights of individuals
under the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse judicial
leadership, fairness and equality in the courts, and equal
access to justice.
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About NAWJ:
Since its formation in 1979, NAWJ has inspired and lead the
American judiciary in achieving fairness and equality for vulnerable
populations. Led by two visionary women - Justice Joan Dempsey Klein
and Justice Vaino Spencer - 100 brave and intrepid women judges met and
formed an organization dedicated to the following ideals: ensuring equal
justice and access to the courts for all including women, youth, the
elderly, minorities, the underprivileged, and people with disabilities;
providing judicial education on cutting-edge issues of importance;
developing judicial leaders; increasing the number of women on the bench
in order for the judiciary to more accurately reflect the role of women
in a democratic society; and improving the administration of justice to
provide gender-fair decisions for both male and female litigants.
From the day it was founded, NAWJ has been committed to diversity in
our membership. Our organization welcomes both men and women. We include
appellate, trial, tribal, administrative law judges, state and federal
judges, and members from every state in the nation.
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 have greatly 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 also are
respected as a leader in educating judges on bioethics, elderly abuse,
the sentencing of women offenders with substance abuse problems; improving
conditions for women in prison; and the problems facing immigrants in our
court system. Currently we are developing curricula on the effect of
genetic advances on women and vulnerable populations, the impact of
international law on state and federal courts, and cognitively disabled
persons in criminal courts.
In addition to addressing these and other important issues, NAWJ
provides an opportunity for judges to meet and discuss professional issues
of mutual concern in a supportive atmosphere. Connecting with others with
the same values, we laugh, enjoy life and mentor one another nationwide.
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