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									| July 2016 | 
								 
								
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									In This Issue: | 
								 
								
									
									
										- President's Message
 
										- REGISTER TODAY! Faces of Justice: NAWJ 2016 Annual Conference, October 5-9, Seattle
 
										- Nominations Sought for NAWJ 2016-2017 Board of Directors Positions, DEADLINE: Friday July 8
 
										- NAWL 2016 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, New York City Thursday, July 14
 
										- NAWJ Seeks Nominations for its 2016 NAWJ Awards, DEADLINE: August 5
 
										- NCJFCJ Sponsors National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking, September 26-27, 2016, Washington, D.C.
 
										- 2017 NAWJ Cruise from Boston to Montreal, Reserve Your Cabin Today
 
										- Women in Prison Committee Reports Latest Visit to Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York
 
										- NAWJ Honors Three at Annual New York Chapter Annual Dinner
 
										- NCSC Seeks Nominations for its 2016 William H. Rehnquist Award
 
										- NAWJ Judicial Exchanges
 
										- GEICO's Spring Offer to Members
 
										- Calendar of Programs and Events
 
									 
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												 National Association of Women Judges 
												The Honorable Lisa Walsh 
												NAWJ President  | 
											 
											
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												 President's Message July 2016 
												
												Greetings from NAWJ. First and foremost, if you have not done so yet, please click www.nawj.org and view our new website. This project has been the result of three years of hard work, beginning with Hon. Sheri Roman, Hon. Karen Donohue and Cathy Winter of CourtCall, who developed the website proposal, engaged in a search and obtained our vendor, Efelle. Our team in the last year, led by Website Project Manager Hon. Karen Donohue, including Efelle, Jenn Fedin, Paola Tejada-Lalinde, and Marie Komisar drafted, tweaked, and moved mountains to make this happen. We all should offer our congratulations and heartfelt thanks to our team who made this very difficult and time-intensive project come to fruition with a beautiful product of which we should all be proud.
												
												We are also so delighted that the Informed Voters Fair Judges Project (IVP) has completed development of its beautiful new website as well. Please explore the IVP site for newly-developed user-friendly materials for use as we educate our voters about a fair and free judiciary. You may click directly on the IVP website here or find it linked to the NAWJ website under  learn more about the IVP.
												
												
												
												On July 22, 2016, NAWJ hosted its 11th Annual meeting with the members of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues. This year, we focused upon the topics of sexual assault in the military and on college campuses. Our exceptional panel was representative of the three branches of government, academia and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault. I was very proud that my Florida Congresswoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, welcomed our guests.
												
												
												
												Senator Claire McCaskill (MO) and Mr. Robert Taylor, Principal Deputy General Counsel for the Department of Defense, discussed legislation drafted by Senator McCaskill, passed in 2014, which dramatically changed the way in which the military investigates and adjudicates allegations of sexual assault and harassment. For example, prior to the legislation, a soldier could defend an allegation of sexual assault on the ground that he was otherwise a good soldier. This "good soldier" defense was all but eliminated in 2014. Among other changes, the Act now requires appointment of a Special Victim's Counsel to advise victims on whether an accusation should be made by court martial or civilian court, and requires that great weight be given to the expressed preference of the victim.
												
												The efficacy of the changes was studied in a comprehensive report published in 2015. This report indicates that incidents of reporting have increased, and noted an increase in reports which were converted from restricted to unrestricted (restricted reports are not disclosed to commanders or law enforcement while unrestricted reports result in an official investigation of a crime). However, the military still struggles with a high incidence of retaliation within military units against those who report assault. The difficulty the military faces is maintaining critical unit cohesion while supporting its defenders who suffer abuse at the hands of members of their units. Retaliation undermines that cohesion, and Mr. Taylor emphasized that the military will continue working hard to bring to justice those who retaliate against victims of assault. While NAWJ member and co-chair of our Military Courts committee Col. Linda Murnane (ret.) could not attend, she provided much of the educational material and inspiration for assembling this portion of our exceptional panel.
												
												
												
												Our panelists also included Laura Dunn , a survivor of assault, attorney, adjunct professor of law, and founder of SurvJustice, an organization that provides representation to those proceeding in campus hearings on allegations of sexual assault; Professor of Law Suzanne B. Goldberg (far right), Executive Vice President for University Life at Columbia University; and retired Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and NAWJ Past-President, Judge Carolyn Engel Temin, who has presided over hearings on allegations of sexual harassment and assault on college campuses.
												
												In 2011, the Office of Civil Rights issued what has been referred to as its "Dear Colleague" letter, sent to all colleges and universities to address application of Title IX requirements to complaints of sexual harassment and assault. Universities differed in their application of these standards, depending upon size and budget, with the resulting processes ranging widely. We addressed whether the processes now in place adequately provide both parties a correct understanding of the process, an adequate opportunity to be heard, a reliable investigation, and appropriate results.
												
												Professor Goldberg described Columbia University's process, which includes the right to counsel for both parties, an investigation by a neutral investigator and the right to formal process with a hearing. Ms. Dunn countered that a model that incorporates traditional quasi-judicial due process is not appropriate, as the goals of a campus hearing differ from the goals of an accusatory system. Panelists suggested that universities may want to opt into a system where complaints are referred to a resource center staffed with personnel trained and accustomed to investigating and adjudicating complaints. All panelists recognized the challenges in developing processes among campuses that vary in size, budget and resources. Professor Goldberg agreed that at the very least, evidence-based study should be made of systems in place to determine their efficacy. Our judges may wish to reach out to provide guidance and support to our academic communities on such issues as fact-finding and adjudicatory processes. In all, the meeting was substantive, robust, and inspired a future conversation on an issue which is extremely important, affects our youth, and is squarely in the public eye. We look forward to a continued conversation at our Annual Conference in Seattle, on Friday, October 7, featuring a panel led by Professor Judith Resnik.
												
												Please register for the 38th Annual NAWJ Conference to be held in Seattle October 5-9, 2016. To register online on our new website, click here. Have a wonderful July. 
												Sincerely yours,
												
												Lisa Walsh 
												President, NAWJ 
												11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade, Florida
												
												PRESIDENT'S CALENDAR 
												May 26-30 - IAWJ 13th Biennial Conference Washington, DC
												
												June 14, 2014 - White House Summit on the United State of Women, Washington, DC
												
												June 22, 2016 - Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues Washington, DC
												
												August 4-8, 2016 - ABA Annual Conference San Francisco | 
											 
										
									 
									 
									
									
										
											
												 
												
												   
												
												 Faces of Justice 
												NAWJ 38th Annual Conference 
												October 5-9, 2016 
												The Sheraton Seattle Hotel • 1400 6th Ave. • Seattle, WA  | 
											 
											
												
												
												CONFERENCE CHAIR
												Justice Susan Owens, Washington Supreme Court
												 CO-CHAIRS
												Justice Mary E. Fairhurst, Washington Supreme Court 
												Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, Washington Supreme Court 
												Justice Sheryl G. McCloud, Washington Supreme Court 
												Justice Debra Stephens, Washington Supreme Court
												 
												EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRS
												Judge Karen Donohue, Seattle Municipal Court 
												Judge Maggie Ross, Pierce County District Court
												 
												FRIENDS COMMITTEE CHAIRS
												Ellen Conedera Dial, Esq., Perkins Coie 
												Nancy Isserlis, Esq.
												 
												CONFERENCE SPONSORS
												PREMIER
												Perkins Coie Foundation
												 GOLD
												LexisNexis • Microsoft • Jane Powell PC • Starbucks
												 SILVER
												Nintendo Inc • Pacific Law Group Seattle • Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt • Thomson Reuters
												 BRONZE
												Keller Rohrback L.L.P. • Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton • Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch • Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters • Stokes Lawrence
												 SUPPORTER
												Aoki Law • King County Bar Association • Talmadge/Fitzpatrick/Tribe • Washington State Bar Foundation
												 
												CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
												Welcome Reception 
												Challenges of Aging: Proactive or Reactive Response 
												Justice for Vets 
												Transgender People and the Courts: Ensuring Respect and Fairness 
												Ethical Issues for Judges in Dealing with Human Trafficking 
												Keynote Speaker Stephanie Coontz 
												Water Knows No Borders: New Challenges in Balancing State, Federal and Tribal Water Law Interests 
												Community Supervision of Female Offenders 
												Gender and Race in Law and Movies 
												Breakfast with the Deans of Selected Law Schools in Washington State 
												Sexual Assault on College Campuses 
												Many Faces of Trafficking - Labor Trafficking: Underground Economy Workshop 
												Ensuring Access to Justice for Limited English Proficient and Near, Hard of Hearing 
												Tribal State Court Consortiums 
												Keynote Speaker Karen K. Narasaki 
												Implicit Bias and Cultural Awareness 
												Reception at the Experience Music Project Museum 
												Incarcerated Voices: The IF Project 
												Gala Banquet Awards Ceremony  
												
												CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES: 
												$525 for Members who are First-Time Attendees 
												$595 for NAWJ Members 
												$695 for Non-Member Attendees 
												$575 for Spouse and Children of Attendees
												
												Register online here, or download and fax this registration form.
												
												ROOM RESERVATIONS: 
												The conference host hotel is the Sheraton Seattle Hotel. Call (888) 627-7057 • NAWJ Rate: $229/night, plus applicable taxes, single or double occupancy.
												
												For More Information Contact: 
												Conference Manager: Mary Kathleen Todd at mtodd@nawj.org
												
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												 Call for Nominations for 
												2016-2017 NAWJ Board of Directors Positions 
												Deadline: Friday, July 8, 2016  | 
											 
											
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												The Nominating Committee of the National Association of Women Judges seeks nominees for the following positions for the 2016 - 2017 term:
												
												 President-Elect 
												Vice President for Districts 
												Vice President for Publications 
												Secretary 
												Treasurer 
												
												NAWJ BYLAWS:
												
												The duties of the above positions are set out in the NAWJ Bylaws at:
												Article. X (Duties of Officers) and 
												Article. VIII (Representatives to Other Organizations.) 
												
												Article. IX provides:
												§1: "Only voting members of the organization in good standing shall be eligible to hold office." 
												§2(b) "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." 
												
												Article. XI, §7 provides:
												"The Nominating Committee, chaired by the Immediate Past President, shall consist of no less than nine (9) members selected to afford fair representation to all regions of the country. Names of the members of the Nominating Committee shall be circulated by the President to the voting members not less than ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting." 
												
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												We invite you to nominate yourself or another member (with consent) for any of these offices. Only voting members in good standing are eligible to hold office and remain subject to the canons of judicial conduct. Voting members include sitting judges and retired judge members in good standing.
												
												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 attach the nominee's curriculum vita. 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 (self-nomination or by another.) The President-Elect must have served a term as Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer, or as Chair of the Projects Committee or the Finance Committee. Candidates for the position of President-Elect should include a concise statement of their vision, address plans for continuing to build on NAWJ's existing projects and programs, and their approach to implementing NAWJ's Strategic Plan, which can be found at NAWJ's website.
												
												Individual nominations, nominations by petition, and letters of support must be submitted to the Nominating Committee by Friday, July 8, 2016.
												
												Address letters to: 
												National Association of Women Judges 
												ATTN: Hon. Julie E Frantz, Chair, Nominating Committee 
												1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 1138 
												Washington, D.C. 20036 
												Fax: (202) 393-0125 or 
												Email: mkomisar@nawj.org and Julie.e.frantz@ojd.state.or.us
												
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												NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS: 
												Judge Julie E. Frantz, Multnomah County Circuit, Chair 
												Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, District of Columbia Court of Appeals 
												Judge Bernice Donald, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 
												Justice Nan Duffly, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 
												Senior Justice Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court 
												Judge Jennifer Gee, U.S. Department of Labor 
												Judge Marcella Holland, Circuit Court for Baltimore City (Retired) 
												Judge Gladys Kessler, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia 
												Judge Brenda Loftin, St. Louis County Circuit Court (Retired) 
												Justice Judith McConnell, California Court of Appeal 
												Chief Justice Amy Nechtem, Massachusetts Juvenile Court 
												Judge Vanessa Ruiz, District of Columbia Court of Appeal 
												Justice Bea Ann Smith, Texas Court of Appeals (Retired)
												
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												 Sail with NAWJ from Boston to Montreal 
												on Holland America's ms Maasdam Line 
												May 20-27, 2017  | 
											 
											
												
												
												
													
														
															| 2017 New England Cruise Schedule | 
														 
														
															  | 
														 
														
															| Saturday - 20 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Depart 4:00 pm Boston, Massachusetts
															
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															| Sunday - 21 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Arrive 7:00 am Bar Harbor, Maine - Depart 3:00 pm
															
															 | 
														 
														
															| Monday - 22 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Arrive 9:00 am Halifax, Nova Scotia - Depart 6:00 pm
															
															 | 
														 
														
															| Tuesday - 23 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Arrive 11:00 am Sydney, Nova Scotia - Depart 6:00 pm
															
															 | 
														 
														
															| Wednesday - 24 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Arrive 11:00 am Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - Depart 6:00 pm
															
															 | 
														 
														
															| Thursday - 25 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Cruising the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
															
															 | 
														 
														
															| Friday - 26 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Arrive 7:00 am Quebec City, Quebec - Depart 6:00 pm
															
															 | 
														 
														
															| Saturday - 27 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Cruising the Saint Lawrence River
															
															 | 
														 
														
															| Sunday - 28 May 2017 | 
														 
														
															| Arrive 7:00 am Montreal, Quebec, Canada
															
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															| ACCOMMODATIONS | 
															Per Person Fares* | 
														 
														
															| Interior Stateroom | 
															$759 | 
														 
														
															| Ocean-View Stateroom | 
															$959 | 
														 
														
															| Vista Suite | 
															$2,199 | 
														 
													
												 
												
												Taxes, fees and port expenses are an additional $210 and subject to change. *Single occupancy 200% of cruise fares.
												
												ROOM PAYMENT 
												Download and complete this  registration form and mail, fax or email to: 
												Nancy Curtis, 2334 Vista Valley Lane, Vista, California 92084. Fax: 760-295-7733 
												Email: curtistravel2@gmal.com
												
												REGISTRATION 
												Attendee registration fee includes a reception after disembarking in Montreal with Canadian members of IAWJ, and a cruise memento.
												
												NAWJ REGISTRATION FEE
												
													
														
															| EARLYBIRD | 
															$125 NAWJ/IAWJ Members. REGISTER BY DECEMBER 31, 2016. | 
														 
														
															| After December | 
															$150 NAWJ/IAWJ Members | 
														 
													
												 
												
												Complete and fax/ mail/email this form to: 
												National Association of Women Judges 
												1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1138 
												Washington, D.C. 20036. 
												Fax: (202) 393-0125. 
												Email: sdecastro@nawj.org
												
												Registration must be received by NAWJ no later than your final payment to the cruise line.
												
												For more details not found on this site contact cruise coordinator Nancy Curtis at curtistravel2@gmail.com
												
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												 National Association of Women Lawyers 
												2016 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon 
												Thursday, July 14 
												Grand Hyatt at Grand Central, New York City  | 
											 
											
												
												
												Join over 850 leading lawyers from across the United States and abroad at the National Association of Women Lawyers NAWL 2016 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon at the Grand Hyatt New York on Thursday, July 14. NAWL will recognize and honor leading lawyers who have made a significant impact on improving and diversifying the legal profession, and NAWL members who, through their time and effort, have made exceptional contributions to fulfilling NAWL's mission.
												
												Attendees will include law firm, government, non-profit, and public service attorneys, as well as in-house counsel, members of the judiciary, and prominent law school faculty. The Annual Meeting features substantive sessions led by distinguished speakers, with a focus on building leadership and business acumen among women in the law. At this year's luncheon, we will celebrate the following awardees:
												
												• President's Award: Facebook Inc. 
												• NAWL Lead by Example Award: Alan Bryan, Senior Associate General Counsel, Legal Operations & Outside Counsel Management, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 
												• M. Ashley Dickerson Award: Sheri Lynn Johnson, Associate Dean for Public Engagement and the James and Mark Flanagan Professor of Law, Cornell Law School 
												• Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Awardees: 
												- Beth K. Baier, Principal Counsel, Media Distribution, The Walt Disney Company 
												- Lieutenant Colonel Mary E. Card-Mina, Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Army 
												- Lindsay G. Carlson, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
												
												NAWJ members may obtain discount codes from by contacting Concitta Cavin at NAWL (cavinc@nawl.org or 312.988.6748).
												
												For more information visit their website, http://www.nawl.org/2016annualmeeting.
												
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												 NAWJ Awards Committee Seeks Nominations 
												for Annual Hon. Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year Award 
												and Florence K. Murray Award 
												
												 NAWJ Executive Committee and President to Consider Candidates for 
												Mattie Belle Davis Award and Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award 
												
												 Deadline: AUGUST 5, 2016  | 
											 
											
												
												
												The NAWJ Awards Committee requests nominations for the Honorable Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year Award and for the Florence K. Murray Award. Nominations will be accepted until the deadline of AUGUST 5, 2016. To assist you in nominating candidates for these two awards, click here for application guidelines for the KLEIN Award, and here for the MURRAY Award.
												
												In addition, the Executive Committee and the President will respectively select 2016 honorees for the Mattie Belle Davis Award and the Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award. Click here to review guidelines for the Mattie Belle Davis and Justice Vaino Spencer Awards.
												
												Awards will be given out during the 38th Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.
												
												Please submit completed nominations no later than AUGUST 5, 2016 to mkomisar@nawj.org by mail or fax to:
												
												National Association of Women Judges 
												Attn: Hon. Amy L. Nechtem 
												1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1138 
												Washington, D.C. 20036 
												Fax: 202-393-0125
												
												AWARDS COMMITTEE MEMBERS: 
												Judge Claudia Barber, District of Columbia Administrative Office of Hearings 
												Judge Diana Becton, Contra Costa County Superior Court 
												Judge Diana S. Eagon, Hennepin County District Court (Retired) 
												Senior Justice Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court 
												Judge Brenda Loftin, St. Louis County Circuit Court (Retired) 
												Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, Washington State Supreme Court 
												Judge Vanessa Ruiz, District of Columbia Court of Appeals
												
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												 National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking 
												September 26-27, 2016 • Washington, D.C. 
												National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges  | 
											 
											
												
												
												The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is excited to announce that a second National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking will be taking place this year in the Washington, D.C. area on September 26-27, 2016. Judicial officers from around the nation are invited to attend and learn more about this important issue.
												
												The highly interactive Institute uses hypothetical case scenarios, small group discussion, survivor testimony, practical courtroom exercises, and "mini" lectures to provide new and experienced juvenile and family court judges with the tools they need to develop or enhance their ability to identify and work with child sex trafficking victims. Judges will also learn effective intervention strategies that respond to the individualized needs of each victim and a stronger sense of their courtroom and community roles to help prevent and end domestic child sex trafficking.
												
												A few of the noted faculty and experts may include:
												
												• Judge Catherine Pratt of the S.T.A.R. Court - Los Angeles Superior Court (see a video regarding her specialty court here.) 
												• Dr. Karen Country-Roswurm, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Combating Human Trafficking (see an article on Dr. Roswurm here.) 
												• Yasmin Vafa, JD, Executive Director of Rights4Girls (see her Huffington Post blog here.)
												
												There is no registration fee for this excellent program but participants will be responsible for their own lodging, travel arrangements, and other costs.
												
												Click here to register for the Institute!
												
												The Institute is the result of a dynamic partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Futures Without Violence, Rights4Girls, and the NCJFCJ. This program is currently pending approval from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
												
												Please contact Chrissy Cullen at ccullen@ncjfcj.org or (775) 507-4811 with any questions.
												
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												 Women in Prison Committee Visits the Metropolitan Detention 
												Center in Brooklyn, New York  | 
											 
											
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												Please read the report of National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) Women in Prison Committee (WIP)'s second visit (June 3, 2016) to the Bureau of Prison's Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York here.
												
												The federal women's prison at Danbury, Connecticut, closed in December 2013. BOP "temporarily" re-located the Danbury women to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) located in Brooklyn, New York. The MDC consists of two buildings, eight and nine stories high. The women are held in a housing unit on an upper floor. One of the visitors Women in Prison Committee Co-Chair Brenda Williams reports:
												
												 "The conditions are scandalous…to forbid the sun to shine on their territory. That deprivation in itself makes people crazy, never to see the outside world. As your report says, the conditions are "unconscionable" and, in violating the minimal standards, ought to be cause for demotion or legal action against the administrators. It is hideous to read about--no programs, no doctors, no proper food, no outdoor time. Inhumane in every respect. And clearly nobody is listening to the women--whether in general or in particular. No counseling, no facilitating employment. Nothing but emotional abuse." 
												
												Judge Cheryl J. Gonzales, Chair of the New York Chapter of the NAWJ's WIP, Judge Robin S. Garson, and NAWJ WIP Co-Chairs, Judge Brenda P. Murray and Judge Betty J. Williams, visited MDC on March 20, 2015, and again on June 3, 2016.
												
												Again, you may read their report here.
												
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												 NAWJ New York Honors Hon. Leslie E. Stein, Hon. Darcel 
												Clark and Hon. Janet DiFiore at Annual Chapter Dinner  | 
											 
											
												
												
												 
												
												Pictured from left: Hon. Leslie E. Stein; Marie Komisar, NAWJ Executive Director; Hon. Kathy J. King, New York Chapter President; NAWJ Past President Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin; former NAWJ Board Member Hon. Darcel Clark; and NAWJ Past President Hon. La Tia W. Martin (who received the award on behalf of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, not pictured). Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese. Story written by From By Rob Abruzzese at the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.  
												
												The New York Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) hosted its annual dinner on June 29 at Giando On the Water in Williamsburg where it honored Chief Judge of the State of New York Janet DiFiore and two others.
												
												In addition to DiFiore, Hon. Leslie E. Stein, associate judge of the court of appeals, and Hon. Darcel Clark, district attorney in the Bronx, were also honored.
												
												"Isn't this a wonderful evening?" said Hon. Kathy J. King, president of the NAWJ New York Chapter. "We have a beautiful mix of powerful women mingling with colleagues and friends while supporting a great organization."
												
												The ceremony at the event was brief, with state Assemblymember Annette Robinson giving the invocation, King speaking about the organization and then presenting awards to the three honorees and the honorees then giving short remarks. Each honoree also received a Tiffany crystal bowl engraved with the NAWJ's emblem.
												
												"In the poem, 'The Phenomenal Woman,' the late Poet Laureate Maya Angelou speaks of a woman who is self-confident and unafraid to fight for the rights of others," King said. "Tonight's honorees are examples of phenomenal women."
												
												Click here to finish reading the story.
												
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												 National Center for State Courts 
												Seeks Nominations for 2017 
												William H. Rehnquist Award  | 
											 
											
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												Presented annually by the National Center for State Courts, the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence is a prestigious award honoring a state court judge who demonstrates the outstanding qualities of judicial excellence, including integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professional ethics, creativity, sound judgment, intellectual courage, and decisiveness. The William H. Rehnquist Award honors judges who are taking bold steps to address a variety of issues affecting their communities.
												
												In the fall of each year, the judge receiving this distinguished honor is recognized during an award ceremony held at the U.S. Supreme Court. The award highlights the judge's work to provide model programs for court systems throughout the United States.
												
												Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts Jr. will present the award during an evening dinner ceremony on Thursday, November 17, 2016, at the United States Supreme Court.
												
												Nominations must be received by Friday, June 17, 2016. Click here to learn more about nominations.
												
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												 International Outreach's 
												Judicial Exchange Program Subcommittee  | 
											 
											
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												Judge Teresa Guerrero-Daley, who chairs the Judicial Exchange subcommittee of NAWJ's International Outreach Committee, reminds anyone interested in exchange that the subcommittee has created a Judicial Exchange Program form. The form may be used to communicate where and when you will be traveling, along with other travel details, to assist the committee in matching an appropriate host.
												
												You may download the form here. For additional information contact Judge Teresa Guerrero-Daley at Tguerrero-daley@scscourt.org.
												
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												 Landmark Sponsor GEICO  | 
											 
											
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												Part of NAWJ and GEICO's partnership provides 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. Visit www.geico.com/disc/nawj (special portal here) or call 1-800-368-2734 for your free rate quote. GEICO can also help you find great rates on homeowners, renters, motorcycle insurance, and more.
												
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												 Calendar of Programs and Events  | 
											 
											
												2016 
												October 
												NAWJ 37th Annual Conference will take place in Seattle, Washington from October 5-9, 2016 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.
												
												2017 
												October 
												NAWJ 38th Annual Conference will take place in Atlanta, Georgia from October 11-15, 2017 at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.
												
												2018 
												October 
												NAWJ 39th Annual Conference will take place in San Antonio, Texas from October 3-7, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk. | 
											 
										
									 
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