NAWJ Monthly Update June 2014

• International Association of Women Judges Biennial Conference - I had the privilege to attend the 12th Biennial International Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, on May 4 - 8, 2014, along with over 70 U.S. judges and attendees, as well as over 500 women judges from around the world. The conference was hosted by IAWJ President, Justice Eusebia Munuo, of Tanzania who chose "Justice for All" as the theme for the conference. During the opening ceremonies on May 5, 2014, Tanzania's President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, specifically discussed how access to justice is becoming an ever more critical theme in the work of so many developing countries.
• In addition, this year's programming offered a number of interesting panels, including: "Reflections on the Changing Meaning of 'Justice for All,'" "Justice for Vulnerable Witnesses," "The Global Leadership of Women: Translating Lessons Learned at the International Tribunals to Low-Resource Courts," and "Being the Change You Want to See in the World: National Women Judges Associations and 'Justice for All,'" moderated by NAWJ Past President, Judge Vanessa Ruiz of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. I also had the chance to encourage many of the participating judges to attend the next biennial conference in 2016, which will be hosted in our very own Washington, D.C.
• With an overwhelming majority, conference delegates passed a resolution condemning the kidnapping of Nigerian Girls. The resolution was proposed by the North American region (US and Canada). Joining me in leadership were NAWJ International Director Ann Walsh Bradley, and Canadian representative Hon. Lucy LaVigne (Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick) in consultation with the Nigerian delegation. Final statement in the resolution: We, the delegates in attendance at the 12th Biennial Conference of the IAWJ in Tanzania are unshakable in our resolve to end gender based violence and to educate and raise awareness of the rights to justice for all and the non-negotiable mandate that the Rule of Law prevail.

• Washington School for Girls Graduation - the Washington (Middle) School for Girls in Washington, D.C., offered me the opportunity to serve as this year's graduation speaker. Sixteen beautiful and brilliant young women graduated from the eighth grade. It was my pleasure to meet and address this group of future leaders. During my speech, I called on the girls to: (1) identify their passions; (2) develop their own voices; and (3) live up to their potential.
• National Constitution Center and NAWJ Judicial Independence Panel - I will represent the NAWJ at a panel on judicial independence on June 9, 2014, in Philadelphia, PA, entitled: "A Judge's Perspective on Current Threats to a Fair and Impartial Judiciary." The panel is being co-sponsored by the National Constitution Center and I will be joined by former Iowa Supreme Court Justice, Marsha Ternus, and Florida Supreme Court Justice, Barbara Pariente. During this exciting panel, I will highlight the work of the "Informed Voters - Fair Judges" Project. Please watch live at: http://constitutioncenter.org/calendar/a-judges-perspective-on-judicial-independence. The panel begins at 12 pm EDT.

§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."

"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."

• The growth of political pressure on our courts and judges.
• Trends in judicial elections and special interest spending.
• Best practices for dealing with legislative and ballot measures that would open courts to more big-money pressure.
• Communications strategies for protecting a fair courts agenda.