NAWJ Monthly Update February 2018
Written by National Association of Women Judges|February 09, 2018|Monthly Update Archive
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Greetings,
I hope that this message finds you well.
It is with regret that I inform you that the NAWJ Executive Committee accepted the written resignation of Justice Rebeca Martinez and Judge Beckie Palomo as co-chairs of the 2018 San Antonio Annual Conference. Justice Martinez and Judge Palomo were unable to continue their service as co-chairs and NAWJ is sincerely grateful to them for their energy, enthusiasm and diligence in planning this conference. Vice President of Districts, Judge Orlinda Naranjo, will pick up the baton and continue the work of Justice Martinez and Judge Palomo. Judge Naranjo, in consultation with myself, has selected the theme of "Shaping the Future of Justice in the Emerging Legal Landscape," for the 2018 San Antonio Annual Conference, which is in keeping with the focus of my presidential term and the state of current affairs. We extend sincere thanks and appreciation to Justice Martinez, Judge Palomo and Judge Naranjo.
The committee list for 2018 has been complied and will be released next week. I again thank those who stepped up to chair a committee, as well as those who joined committees. It is never too late to join a committee and I encourage you to become more involved. Please contact our Executive Director, Marie Komisar, in the event of any needed changes or revisions to the committee list.
February is Black History Month, which resonates with a sense of pride for me and other members of this community. However, this month should resonate with us all because the past and present contributions of Black men and women have benefitted this nation in every facet of society. NAWJ owes its existence to the late Hon. Vaino Spencer, a Black woman, who along with Hon. Joan Dempsey Klein, was bold enough to dream and establish an organization that ensures equal access to justice for all. Every NAWJ member stands on the shoulders of the late Hon. Vaino Spencer and we will be sure to remain the leading voice for women jurists.
NAWJ pays homage to the late Hon. Jane Bolin, the first Black female jurist in the United States; the late Hon. Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; the late Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a dedicated NAWJ member and first Black woman appointed to the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court; as well as the countless number of known and unknown Black men and women and past and present NAWJ members who blazed their own personal and professional trails to make a difference in their respective communities.
February is also known for Valentine's Day. This day is usually associated with romantic love where people exchange cards, chocolates, flowers, jewelry and other gifts as signs of affection. In these troubling times where the level of discourse has been reduced to ad hominem attacks, bullying and name calling, my hope is that we use Valentine's Day and every day to express agape love – good will, kindness, compassion and benevolence towards one another.
Love is a powerful force which will always overcome darkness and hate.
Sincerely,
Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy
NAWJ Member Heather L. Rosing, Esq. was elected the first President of the California Lawyers Association (CLA). The 
District Attorney Summer Stephan has devoted her life to protecting children and families and providing justice to the voiceless and most vulnerable. She is a national leader in the fight against sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Summer Stephan has served as Deputy District Attorney in San Diego County for 27 years. During this time, she combined extensive courtroom experience with over 15 years of management and leadership experience. She rose through the ranks to appointments as Chief of the District Attorney's North County Branch, and Chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division, a Special Victims Unit she pioneered.
In 2017, she was appointed District Attorney. Managing a professional staff of over 1,000 employees, Ms. Stephan leads the second largest District Attorney's Office in California, serving San Diego County and its over three million residents spread throughout cities and communities from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Riverside County line. District Attorney Stephan uses her nearly three decades of experience to set public safety priorities and collaborate with law enforcement and communities to maintain San Diego County as one of the safest urban regions in the United States.
District Attorney Stephan holds leadership positions in public safety on the national state and local level, including being selected as one of only two prosecutors in California to serve on Governor Schwarzenegger's Task Force for High-Risk Sex Offenders and Sexually-Violent Predators. She chaired the San Diego County Human Trafficking Advisory Council, and also spearheaded the innovative "Know the Price" campaign, which focused on reducing sexual assaults of college students.
District Attorney Stephan is the recipient of numerous local, state and federal awards, including an FBI commendation for organized crime prosecution, the outstanding achievement award for the complex prosecution involving the sexual assault and murder of an elderly woman. She was named "Angel of Anti-Human Trafficking" and "Modern Day Abolitionist. She also received the prestigious 2016 "Voices for Justice" award by the Interfaith Center for Worker Justice. This year, she received the Lifetime Legacy Award by Women of Influence and the Community Impact award by North County Lifeline.
She has supported NAWJ for many years before becoming a member through her participation in Color of Justice, Mentor Jet, Success Inside & Out programs. Welcome to NAWJ, District Attorney Stephan! We salute you for your noteworthy professional achievements and support of NAWJ!
In October 2017, William C.E. Robinson, Esq. was honored with NAWJ's Mattie Belle Davis Award. This award recognizes a member who has gone above and beyond his or her role as an NAWJ member and volunteers to help make a difference in the organization, furthers its mission, and is dedicated to furthering and supporting women in the legal profession.
William has led GEICO's support of NAWJ since 2014, when he joined the Resource Board. Throughout his career, William has worked to promote fairness and equality in the legal field for people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds and has invested time and energy in a number of charitable organizations. Currently, he serves as a Commissioner on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Equal Access to Justice Commission. He was previously a board member of the New York Urban League.
From January 2001 until December 2007, William served as senior corporate counsel in the Office of General Counsel for GEICO. Since December 2007, he has served as Corporate Secretary for GEICO Corporation and its various subsidiaries. His mission in this role is two-fold: (1) provide corporate secretary services to the GEICO Companies and their Directors and Officers, including corporate governance oversight, records retention and maintenance, and various insurance department filings; and (2) provide the Human Resources Department with legal counsel relating to the legal compliance and other aspects of labor and employment issues confronted by the GEICO Companies.
He has been a presenter to several labor and employment law firm associations and in-house corporate counsel associations in the areas of labor and employment, e-discovery and complex class actions. He is also co-author of Corporate Counsel Solutions, Employment Policies and Practices (published by LexisNexis in 2007).
NAWJ extends its sincere thanks to William Robinson for his steadfast support of and commitment to NAWJ.
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