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August 2012
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In This Issue:
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NAWJ President Judge Amy Nechtem's Message
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REGISTER Your Attendance and RESERVE Your Room for NAWJ's 2012 Annual Conference in Miami, Florida
from November 7-11, 2012
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BOOK DRIVE: View NAWJ's Wish List at Amazon.com and Support Florida's Women in Prison
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NAWJ New Judges Committee Seeks Input to Design Effective Programs Serving New Judges
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Calls for Submissions for the Fall 2012 Counterbalance
Newsletter. Deadline: August 31st
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NAWJ's 7th Annual Meeting with the Congressional Women's Caucus, July 10th on Capitol Hill
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Color of Justice to Celebrate Ten-Year Anniversary on
September 14, 2012 in Bemidji, Minnesota
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2010- 2011 President Hon. Marjorie Laird Carter Named Judge of the Year in Newport News
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NAWJ Past President Chief Justice Dana Fabe Recognized with NCSC's 2012 Distinguished Service Award
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Former NAWJ International Director, 2011 Annual Conference Chair Hon. Sue Pai Yang Honored in by New Jersey
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NAWJ Past President Hon. Vanessa Ruiz Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Legal Service
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NAWJ Member Patricia Barnes Authors Book, Surviving Bullies, Queen
Bees & Psychopaths in the Workplace
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SAVE THE DATE: NAWJ 2013 Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference: May 2-4, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
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NAWJ Upcoming Events
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National Law Journal's Special Report on Women in the Partnership
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
I trust you have enjoyed July with time spent with family and friends "off the bench!"
July was an exciting month for NAWJ with the celebration of our seventh annual meeting on the Hill
with the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues (Women's Caucus) with a focus on Human Trafficking and
Children. My appreciation to Hon. Lauren Best Leeker for her extraordinary commitment to NAWJ and for
co-chairing this tremendous event. Members and guests were treated to a lovely welcoming reception the
evening before at Judge Leeker's firm, Fulbright & Jaworski, generous supporters of NAWJ. Thank you.
We were thrilled at the number of congressional women taking part and interest in our program this year.
Many thanks to our outstanding keynote speaker and panel moderator, Judge Virginia Kendall. Our
panelists rounded the discussion with views from the bar, the Hill, and community outreach. Judge
Kendall spoke dynamically and passionately about the current state of human trafficking nationally
and worldwide and gave suggestions as to how best to recognize and assist its victims. It was a
phenomenal day. Thank you also to President-Elect Joan Churchill for her invaluable assistance with
programming and presentation.
NAWJ is committed to providing greater awareness to our members as seen by our devoted Executive
Director Marie Komisar, along with NAWJ Past-President and Trafficking Committee Chair Judge Carolyn Engel
Temin's, initiative to seek grant monies to train judges in this area. Thank you for your hard work and efforts.
I was honored to attend the National Association of Women Lawyers annual awards luncheon in New York
on July 19th and celebrate the many extraordinary women and their accomplishments in law. Along with
NAWJ/ABA Delegate Justice Nan Duffly we attended that same week in the City, the Consortium for Advancing
Women Lawyers meeting. NAWJ is committed to being "at the table" and contributing to the advancement of
woman in all areas of the law.
 Late July, I was privileged to attend on behalf of
NAWJ the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State
Administrators Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, "Courts and the Community: Solving Problems, Finding
Solutions". Congratulations to Justice Dana Fabe, Chief Justice of Alaska, NAWJ Past-President, recipient of
the National Center for State Courts 2012 Distinguished Service Award. We're proud of you Dana!
I remain proud and privileged to carry the NAWJ torch and wish to thank you all for your day to day efforts
and commitment to our beloved association.
Remember....Miami is around the corner. Trust me, it is not to be missed!
With my best wishes for a fun filled August,
Amy
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NAWJ Convenes with the Congressional Women's Caucus
to Discuss Human Trafficking
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On July 10 in the Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill, seventy people, including 30 judges and 8
congresswomen, met with NAWJ to raise awareness on human trafficking. NAWJ President Hon. Amy L.
Nechtem and
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues Co-Chair Representative
Cynthia Lummis of
Wyoming welcomed attendees to seventh meeting held between NAWJ and the Congressional Women's Caucus.
For the second year in a row,
Representative New York Ann Marie Buerkle,
Co-Chair of the Women's Caucus' Task Force on Trafficking, joined the gathering, emphasizing the
need to strengthen domestic awareness of the human trafficking problem by developing partnerships
between the community and government. An attorney and former nurse, she reminded the group that
the victims "don't have their community" and are denied "freedom and basic rights." Maryland
Congresswoman Donna Edwards, who
shares NAWJ's interest in improving re-entry opportunities for incarcerated women, and visited
women in prison in Maryland, also focused attendees attention on the fact that "trafficking
not only affects the coastlines, its part of every state, impacting local communities and economies."
Meeting Co-Chair, the Honorable Lauren Best Leeker, Retired U.S. Army Trial Judge and
Administrative Counsel to the Executive Committee at Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. took time
to thank supporters, without whose support the meeting could not have taken place. NAWJ graciously
appreciates the support of the Law Office of Alfred R. Belcuore, Dickstein Shapiro LLP,
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Reed Smith LLP, State Justice Institute and the Honorable Denise Vowell.
The moderator of the day's panel discussion was NAWJ member
Judge Virginia Kendall,
U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and co-author of
Child Exploitation and Trafficking: Examining the
Global Challenges and U.S. Responses. She focused on four constants in trafficking:
1) trafficking is a form of coercion; 2) trafficking supply chains require pipelines of money;
3) corruption of public officials is rampant, 4) and that victims experience trauma and adapt
survival techniques which inhibit rescue and the inclination to flee.
Bradley Myles, President and CEO at the
Polaris Project,
a nonprofit dedicated to assisting trafficking victims and runs a 24-hour national hotline
that gets 60-70 calls a day, shared that they are approximately 6,000 victims in the U.S.,
advised judges to keep current on new and relevant laws, and learn to recognize trafficking
instances in their courtrooms. Fulbright & Jaworski attorney
Sarah Devine spent several years
performing pro bono work for Polaris and alerted attendees to the growing concern of providing
legal representation for victims, as well as language and cultural challenges.
Anya McMurray, Senior Counsel to Senator Patrick Leahy, Chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee Office, spent time informing the group of important details of the
Trafficking Victims
Protection Act. The Act expired in 2011, and even with reducing funding request by 30
percent to $190 million a year, challenges still remain for reauthorization. In comparison,
the Violence Against
Women Act is budgeted for $400 a year. Ms. McMurray said that TVPA "needs more advocates"
and that judges should be aware of state and federal protection statues. Additional congressional
attendees included Suzanne Bonamici (OR), Lois Capps (CA), Senator Kay Hagan (NC), Janice
Hahn (CA) and Jan Schakowsky (IL) who introduced the
International
Violence Against Women Act.
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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
Chairs: Judge Mercedes Bach • Judge Judy Chirlin (Retired)
Members: Judge Rosemary Barkett • Justice Ann Walsh Bradley •
Judge Beverly Cutler (Retired) • Judge Beverly Sherman Nash • Judge Gladys Perez •
Judge Geraldine Sparrow • Judge Carolyn Temin
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 • Judge Barbara Lagoa • 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
Advisory Committee
Judge Amy L. Nechtem • Marie E. Komisar
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
Piedra & Associates
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
AARP
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
Gold Sponsors
Akerman Senterfitt LLP
LexisNexis
Silver Sponsors
American Society for International Law
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
Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants
Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP
Colson Hicks Eidson
The Ferraro Law Firm
Grossman Roth, P.A.
Higer, Lichter, Givner
Holland & Knight LLP
JAMS, The Resolution Experts
Kaufman, Rossin & Co.
Kenny Nachwalter, P.A.
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
Perry Ellis
University of Miami School of Law
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS
(Continuing Legal Education credits for education programs are pending
with the Florida Court Education Council and the Florida State Bar Association)
Click here
to read an expanded Schedule of Events on NAWJ's website.
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
Morning Yoga
(sign up with a $10 fee at the Registration Desk in Miami)
Conference Opening Welcome Remarks
Plenary Session - The Independence of the Judiciary
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON
Lisa Bloom, author of
Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS:
Set One
Professor Judith Resnik on "Representing Justice"
Lawyering and Justice - Emerging Issues of Nations in Transition
Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
Set Two
Curbing Access to Justice in a Down Economy
Legal and Judicial Trends in Cuba
Sally Kenney on "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
NAWJ District Breakfast Meetings
Plenary Session - Bringing Human Rights Home
CONCURRENT SESSIONS:
Hidden Impact: The Unseen Consequences of the Economic Crisis
Women's Health
The Impact of Other Laws on Court Decisions
FRIENDS LUNCHEON
A Conversation with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Plenary Session - The Power and Reach of the Internet
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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. Those wishing to attend must complete a form allowing
a background check, and return to Artspring. Download form
here. Space is limited to 40 attendees.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2012
Morning Yoga
(sign up with a $10 fee at the Registration Desk in Miami)
NAWJ Committee Breakfast Meetings
NAWJ Annual Business Meeting and New Officer Investiture
Plenary Session -- Judging in an International Community
NAWJ Resource Board Meeting
2012-2013 NAWJ Board of Directors Meeting
NAWJ ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012
Farewell Breakfast
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BOOK DRIVE
Contribute to NAWJ's Amazon Wish List
for Florida's Women in Prison
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In support of Women in Prison Committee initiatives NAWJ is organizing a book drive in
conjunction with the 2012 Annual Conference to benefit the library at the Homestead
Correctional Institution women's prison in South Florida. The book drive will continue
through the end of November to give every NAWJ member a chance to participate. Our
goal is to give the facility every book on its wish list.
Please take a moment and join this effort.
Or, go to Amazon.com and find NAWJ in their Wish List registry and choose Florida
Women in Prison - Homestead Correctional Institution.
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NAWJ Seeks to Serve New Judges
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NAWJ's New Judges Committee is developing several exciting initiatives
to provide greater support to judges who are new to NAWJ. The committee's mission is to
"develop and implement an action plan (including the creation of substantive programming
as well as mentoring and other initiatives), guiding NAWJ in addressing the needs of new
judges in all sectors of the judiciary, including state, federal, military, tribal and
administrative tribunals, at both the trial and appellate levels." To ensure that we
succeed in our mission, the committee is seeking input from members to help us design
programs that will be effective in serving new judges' needs.
To that end, please take a moment now to answer the following three questions:
1. How long have you been a member of NAWJ?
2. How long have you been on the bench?
3. What do you think new judges (new to the bench and/or new to NAWJ) need from NAWJ?
Please email your responses to Lavinia Cousin at
lcousin@nawj.org by August 31, 2012.
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Vice President of Publications Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby
Calls for Submissions for the Next Issue of Counterbalance
Deadline: August 31, 2012
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Counterbalance informs and connects our members around the country.
It features news and information which highlights NAWJ's many interesting educational programs and activities.
Consider sharing news about yourself, from your jurisdiction, and of your fellow colleagues in the newsletter.
If you know of women judges in your state who have been recently appointed, or promoted or received an honor,
let us know. If you have articles, announcements, book reviews, or events that you would like included in
Counterbalance, please pass them along as well. NAWJ will also
publish essays, and articles of interest which are in accord with our mission.
The deadline for submitting information for the next issue of Counterbalance
is AUGUST 31, 2012. Look for the fall issue before the Annual Conference in Miami, Florida.
Those interested in submitting material should do so by emailing all text and picture files to
Lavinia Cousin at lcousin@nawj.org.
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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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Marjorie Laird Carter - "Judge of the Year - 2012"
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The Newport-Harbor Bar Association (Orange County, CA) selected NAWJ Past President Hon.
Marjorie Laird Carter as "Judge of the Year - 2012" in July.
Judge Carter sits on the California Superior Court in Orange County.
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National Center for State Courts
Awards NAWJ Past President Chief Justice Dana Fabe
with its 2012 Distinguished Service Award
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Our own Alaska Chief Justice Dana Fabe is the recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Service
Award from the National Association of State Courts. The Distinguished Service Award is
presented annually to those who have made significant contributions to the justice system
and who have supported the mission of the NCSC. "During her extensive career in the justice
system, Chief Justice Fabe has worked tirelessly to improve the courts both in Alaska and
around the world," said NCSC President Mary C. McQueen. "She has devoted extensive time,
effort, and energy to increasing awareness about the need for diversity on the bench and
for full access to the courts for all segments of society." Chief Judge of the District
of Columbia Eric T. Washington presented the award to Chief Justice Fabe on July 24th
during the annual meeting of the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court
Administrators in St. Louis, Missouri. Chief Judge Washington is the current President of
CCJ, and Chair of the NCSC Board of Directors.
Chief Justice Fabe was recognized for her longstanding support of the work of the NCSC,
especially its efforts to improve the administration of justice internationally. She
assisted in securing a project to help improve the courts of South Africa and is active
in the International Association of Women Judges. Chief Justice Fabe is the first woman
to serve on the Alaska Supreme Court and the first woman to serve as the state's chief
justice. She is Chair of the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee of the American Judicature
Society, and a Fellow of the American Bar Association. She has also served two terms
as second vice president of the Conference of Chief Justices.
Congratulations, Justice Fabe!
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Hon. Sue Pai Yang Recognized for Professional Achievement
by the New Jersey Chinese American Chamber of Commerce
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NAWJ is pleased to share the news that former International Director and 2011 Annual
Conference Chair the Hon. Sue Pai Yang, JWC (Retired) will be the recipient of an
award for Professional Achievement from the New Jersey Chinese American Chamber of
Commerce (NJCACC). For many years, Judge Yang has been a trailblazer and an
outstanding role model in the Asian community. She will receive the award at
NJCACC's Annual Gala on Friday, September 21, 2012 at the Birchwood Manor located
at 111 North Jefferson Road, Whippany, New Jersey.
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Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Honors NAWJ Past President Hon. Vanessa Ruiz
with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Legal Service
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On June 20, at its 2012 Awards Gala held in Washington, D.C., the Mexican American Legal
Defense and Education Fund ("MALDEF") recognized NAWJ Past President the Hon. Vanessa Ruiz with
its Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Legal Service. Judge Vanessa Ruiz, who recently
retired from the District Columbia Court of Appeals, was NAWJ President for the 2005-06 year.
She initiated NAWJ's annual meeting with the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues on Capitol Hill,
and has recently focused in championing language access for immigrants in our courts through the
American Bar Association (ABA) as Member and Project Chair of the ABA's Standing Committee on Legal
Aid and Indigent Defendants, and Member of the ABA's Steering Committee for Language Access
Standards for the Courts.
Congratulations, Judge Ruiz!
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NAWJ Member Patricia Barnes
Authors Book on the Workplace Challenges
Surviving Bullies, Queen Bees & Psychopaths in the Workplace
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New member Judge Patricia G. Barnes has recently authored a book on workplace relationship
challenges. (Read her press release
here.)
She is an Appellate Judge for two Native American tribes in Northern Nevada. She was appointed Associate
Justice on the Court of Appeals, Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Fallon, NV, serving on a three-judge panel that
decides appeals on tribal civil and criminal matters. She is also Acting Chief Judge of the Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe, where she presides over civil and criminal cases. In addition, she created and moderates a
legal blog on workplace abuse issues:
"When the Abuser Goes to Work ...."
She formerly worked as an attorney at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
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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, and a discussion forum and reception at the
United States Supreme Court Building on Friday, May 3, 2013. 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
NAWJ Reception on September 10th at the Texas Association for Court Administration
(TACA) Annual Judicial Conference, Westin Galleria, Houston, TX.
Color of Justice Ten-Year Celebration will take place
September 14, 2012, at the Beltrami County Courthouse in Bemidji, Minnesota.
NAWJ Maryland Chapter's "Fall Fling" 2012 Leaders Forum. Presented in association
with the Women's Bar Association and Maryland Women Legislative Caucus. September 28-30
at the Rocky Gap Lodge and Resort in Cumberland, MD.
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 October 9 - 13 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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