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July 2012
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In This Issue:
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
Summer is here! I hope this finds you with lovely plans for time spent vacationing with family and
friends over the next few months.
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I had the pleasure and privilege of recently attending the Edna G. Parker Award Dinner in Washington, D.C.
hosted by District 4 Director Judge Claudia Barber. Congratulations to our dear friend and esteemed colleague
Judge Cathy Hollenberg Serrette as the recipient of this year's honor for her outstanding and tireless service
to the community.
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Kudos to NAWJ's Women in Prison Committee, chaired by Judge Brenda Murray and Judge Betty Williams, for their
passion and drive in working to shed light on the inequalities for women seen in the development of the Bureau
of Prison's Aliceville Women's Facility, proposed to house some inmates 500 miles from family and children.
Click to read a
New York Times editorial and an
NAWJ Fact sheet brilliantly authored by Judge Murray.
We are very proud of NAWJ Past-President Judge Vanessa Ruiz who received the Lifetime Achievement Award
for Excellence in Legal Service from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF).
Congratulations Vanessa!
I, 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
kick off summer with NAWJ's Seventh Meeting with the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues on July 10th
in Washington, D.C.. We will join Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Lummis (WY) and Moore (WI.) We have an
exceptional panel planned on July 10th which will address Child Exploitation with a focus on human trafficking.
Judge Leeker's firm, Fulbright and Jaworski, is graciously and generously hosting a reception in honor of this
event on the evening of July 9th. Please join us for this reception, even if you are unable to attend the
meeting on the 10th. See the below announcement for details.
I am scheduled to travel in July on behalf of NAWJ to attend the National Association of Woman Lawyers (NAWL)
Annual Luncheon in New York City; Council of Chief Justices Annual Meeting in St Louis; and ABA Annual Meeting
in Chicago in early August. For those of you attending the ABA Meeting, please note that District 8 Director
Judge Ann Breen Greco will be hosting an NAWJ "meet and greet" on the evening of August 2nd at the Westin Hotel at 4:30pm.
Our District Directors are dynamos, and continue to present wonderful events in each of our districts,
throughout the summer. Please be in touch with your local groups for more detailed information. Thank you
to Judge Ariane Vuono, District One Director, for a fabulous reception celebrating the newly-elevated and
appointed woman judges in my home state of Massachusetts.
Thank you to all the Directors for their devotion to NAWJ.
Remember ... MEET ME IN MIAMI ... time to sign up for another stunning NAWJ conference.
Have a fun July!
With my sincere appreciation for all you do,
Amy
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Women in Prison Committee
Speaks Out on the Federal Bureau of Prison's Proposed
Facility for Women in Aliceville, Alabama
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A recent New York Times editorial,
"Alabama's White Elephant", argued for "more cost-effective ways to deal with most female offenders
than by isolating them in places like Aliceville." Read NAWJ Women in Prison Committee Co-Chair Judge Brenda Murray's
letter to the editor on behalf of the Committee
here.
On behalf of the Committee, Co-Chair Judge Brenda Murray led the challenge on this issue and developed a
multi-point Fact Sheet arguing for alternatives to traditional confinement. Read the opening summary below:
The proposed appropriation bill for the Justice Department/ Bureau of Prisons ("BOP"),
includes funds for the completion and operation of a new women's prison in Aliceville, Alabama, a $250 million project
consisting of a 1,500-person secured facility and, next to it, a 250-person minimum security camp. Most BOP women
prisoners are incarcerated for non-violent offenses and over 50 percent have minor children. We have been interested
in the conditions of incarcerated women for many years; however, we only recently became aware of BOP's plans for
Aliceville, which seem to run contrary to much of the information about successful and humane confinement conditions for women.
We question the wisdom of operating another huge women's prison for the following reasons: (1) in 2011, at least
thirteen states closed prisons or were contemplating doing so; (2) knowledgeable authorities support policies that
place persons in custody near their homes; and (3) several states have facilities in which non-violent incarcerated
mothers can live with their young children while obtaining parental support and treatment for substance abuse.
In addition, as far as we know, BOP has not implemented measures taken by other jurisdictions such as: (a) legislation
in Oregon in 2010 that created two alternatives to prison for some non-violent offenders who have minor children, and
(b) measures adopted in California which allow some primary caregivers early release, and a "realignment policy" by
which individuals sentenced for certain non-violent offenses are placed in local facilities where the offenses occurred.
Finally, it does not appear that BOP has taken self-help measures, such as: greater utilization of available community
corrections so that inmates who now serve an average of only 4 months of the available 12 months authorized by the
Second Chance Act could be moved to the community more quickly; full utilization by all statutorily eligible
prisoners of the residential drug abuse treatment program incentive for non-violent offenders; expanding the use of
home confinement for non-violent, low-level prisoners; and finally, more initiative by BOP to use its sentence
modification authority for "extraordinary and compelling reasons," often referred to as "compassionate release."
Click here to continue read the Committee's
response
and notes in its
Fact Sheet.
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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
- Anya McMurray, Senior Counsel in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Office.
ALL NAWJ MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. RSVP to Lavinia Cousin at 202-393-0222
or lcousin@nawj.org) by July 8.
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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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"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
Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLC
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
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
(Continuing Legal Education credits for education programs are pending
with the Florida Court Education Council and the Florida State Bar Association)
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
Keynote Address by Dahlia Lithwick, Editor of Slate Magazine
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.
Legal and Judicial Trends in Cuba
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) advice 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 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 and should communicate with one another,
formally and informally, regarding cross border issues or simultaneous proceedings.
We will discuss 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.
NAWJ ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012
Farewell Breakfast
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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: mkomisar@nawj.org
NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
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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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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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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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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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
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 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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