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NAWJ Monthly Update April 2018

Written by National Association of Women Judges|April 04, 2018|Monthly Update Archive

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April 2018

In This Issue:

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Greetings,

All roads lead to Brooklyn! We are just days away from descending upon Brooklyn to convene our midyear meeting that takes place at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. This unique and thought-provoking gathering will offer NAWJ members, sponsors, friends and supporters the opportunity to hear from and network with a diverse cross section of thought leaders who will address the most pressing issues facing our nation – bail reform, the opioid crisis, artificial intelligence, non-consensual porn ("revenge porn") and cyber security. Given the recent (and seemingly endless) breaches which have occurred in countless industries, we will feature a live cyber hack demonstration during the cyber security panel. At this midyear meeting, you can also enrich your professional and personal development by attending breakout sessions. We will address topics on how to maintain your mental well-being, the importance of building your personal brand to enhance and further your professional career, and the need to engage in effective outreach to millennials to build the pipeline to the legal profession.

We are very excited and honored that the First Lady of the City of New York, Chirlane McCray, will join us as the keynote speaker for our luncheon, where she and the longest serving NAWJ Resource Board member, Robert M. Kaufman, Esq., will be the recipients of our inaugural "Partner in Justice" Award. Both individuals are deserving of this honor for their commitment to the advancement of women and access to justice for all.

We have circulated a list of dining options that are a short distance from the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as provided you with the opportunity to see the new Broadway play, Saint Joan, featuring actress Condola Rashad as Joan of Arc. No visit to New York City is complete without experiencing the bright lights of Broadway and all the cultural, dining and entertainment the Big Apple has to offer!

Please save the date of July 18, 2018. We will host our Legislative Caucus Meeting (Meeting) in Washington, D.C. on this day. It will feature a panel of experts who will discuss sexual harassment and the imbalance of power in the workplace. The law firm of Deloitte Touche' LLP will host a reception on the eve of our Meeting and will co-sponsor the Meeting. The Women's Bar Association of D.C. will also co-sponsor our Meeting. This is the first time that we have invited a law firm and local bar association to partner and co-sponsor a Meeting. It also marks the first time that we have extended Meeting invitations to judges, attorneys and other professionals who are not NAWJ members. Sexual harassment and the imbalance of power in the workplace affect women in all sectors, including those in the legal community. Our Meeting will serve as the impetus to launch a multi-year educational programming project for the bench and the bar concerning this issue. We hope that you will join us in the nation's capital and we ask that you assist us in spreading the word regarding this timely and important issue.

Finally, NAWJ is going digital! We will release our Counterbalance newsletter and NAWJ Membership Directory in digital format in the coming weeks.

We wish you safe travels and look forward to seeing you in Brooklyn.

Sincerely,

Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy
President, National Association of Women Judges


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Host Hotel Rates: $249 per night, plus applicable state and local taxes, single or double occupancy. The NAWJ room block is almost full; contact the hotel ASAP.

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NAWJ's INFORMED VOTERS PROJECT TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAW DAY WITH SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTNG 2018 THEME "SEPARATION OF POWERS: FRAMEWORK FOR FREEDOM"

May 1, 2018 will mark the 60th Anniversary of Law Day. This year's theme is Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom. This year, NAWJ's Informed Voters-Fair Judges Project will celebrate Law Day by preparing an engaging slide presentation for members to use with public presentations. The resources available to NAWJ members will include a PowerPoint, handouts, and a guide to assist with public education about the three branches of government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and the role of the courts. A training webinar detailing the presentation will be held in early April 2018. For more information, please contact staff@flrea.org and visit the website at https://ivp.nawj.org/.

To learn more about the Law Day and its history, visit the American Bar Association Division for Public Education's website. The site includes a brief overview of the topic and an accompanying video by ABA President Hilarie Bass.


PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP
MEET NAWJ PARTNER IN JUSTICE AWARD RECIPIENT AND LONGEST SERVING
RESOURCE BOARD MEMBER ROBERT M. KAUFMAN, ESQ.
AND RESOURCE BOARD MEMBER CHRISTOPHER K. POOLE, ESQ.

ROBERT M. KAUFMAN, ESQ.

Robert M. Kaufman, Esq. is the longest serving NAWJ Resource Board Member who will receive the inaugural "Partner in Justice Award" at the 2018 NAWJ Midyear Meeting. He is a Partner in the New York office of Proskauer Rose, LLP. His vast experience in the public and private sectors, and his 56 years of legal practice, have given him special depth in the areas of health and hospital law, the law of not-for-profit corporations, multinational corporate law and personal representation.

As a member of the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, followed by several years in the United States Senate as Legislative Assistant to Senator Jacob Javits and as a Senior Economist for the State of New York, Mr. Kaufman brought broad public policy perspective to Proskauer. He has helped to change the face of health and hospital law by his work on the restructuring of New York not-for-profit hospital groups and on the legislative development of the New York hospital reimbursement system. He also spearheaded the first large hospital law department in a New York general practice firm. Mr. Kaufman is the author of various Bar Committee publications and co-editor of the widely praised four-volume Health Care Law Treatise, which was published by Matthew Bender in August 1991. He also actively represents foundations and other not-for-profit organizations. He has been President of the New York City Bar Association and the American Judicature Society, as well as Board Chair of the Times Square Business Improvement District and the Fund for Modern Courts, Vice Chair of the New York Community Trust and a director of numerous other not-for-profit organizations.

Mr. Kaufman joined NAWJ in 1994 and has served on NAWJ's Resource Board from its inception in 1979. NAWJ recognized his service to the organization by honoring him with the Florence K. Murray Award in 1997. He is one of NAWJ's strongest financial contributors and has generously funded NAWJ's International Judges' Scholarship program, providing judicial officers from around the world with an opportunity to attend NAWJ's annual conferences. Following their attendance at NAWJ annual conferences, these international judges have been inspired to form judicial associations in their respective countries.

CHRISTOPHER K. POOLE

Christopher K. Poole is President and Chief Executive Officer of JAMS, a provider of mediation and arbitration services in North America. He is leading the organization during an unprecedented period of growth for JAMS, and the entire alternative dispute resolution (ADR) industry. In his role as President and CEO, he works closely with senior management, and the mediators and arbitrators who own the company, to implement JAMS' "Mission, Vision and Values." He actively recruits high-profile ADR talent to the JAMS panel and oversees the operations and marketing functions across all Resolution Centers in the United States and Canada.

Prior to joining JAMS, Mr. Poole was CEO at Thomson Elite, part of The Thomson Corporation. Under his leadership, Thomson Elite, the software division of Thomson's $3-billion Legal and Regulatory Market Group, grew to be one of the most successful suppliers to the legal industry, with revenues exceeding $125 million. At Thomson, he was responsible for overseeing multiple product lines with 800 employees. During his tenure, Elite dominated its core market, achieving a market share of over 60 percent of the largest law firms in the world. He led the company to expand internationally while introducing new products and penetrating new markets. He was COO of Elite Information Systems from 1995 to 1998, Chair and CEO of Elite Information Group from 1999 to 2003, and President and CEO of Thomson Elite from 2003 to 2006.

Before joining Elite, Mr. Poole was Executive Director of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. Latham is one of the largest law firms in the world, with more than 2,100 attorneys in 24 offices around the globe. He served as Executive Director from 1993 to 1995, and prior to that, he was the firm's Director of Technology from 1989 to 1993. He was the recipient of the 2002 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He earned his B.A. in Economics from Harvard University in 1979 and his M.B.A. in Computers and Marketing from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA in 1984.

Mr. Poole joined the NAWJ Resource Board in 2017. He also joined the NAWJ Sustainability Committee this year to use his business experience to contribute to the long-term success of NAWJ. NAWJ thanks Mr. Poole for his dedication to diversity in his profession and for his commitment to our mission. He is based at the JAMS Irvine Resolution Center and lives with his family in Southern California.


NAWJ MEMBER G. HELEN WHITENER SERVED AS CATALYST FOR SECURING A
COMMITMENT FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE JUDGES ASSOCIATION TO
PRODUCE AND FUND COLOR OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT
WASHINGTON STATE

NAWJ Member Hon. G. Helen Whitener of the Pierce County Superior Court (Tacoma, WA) was the catalyst in securing a commitment from the Washington State Judges Association (SCJA) to produce and to fund (up to $2,000 each) several Color of Justice programs throughout the state. The SCJA Equality and Fairness Committee will administer the program. Last year, Judge Whitener hosted a Color of Justice Program at the Pierce County Superior Court, which was a huge success. Judge Whitener and other NAWJ members will work with the SCJA to host these programs throughout the state. NAWJ salutes Judge Whitener for her efforts. For more information, contact Cynthia.Delostrinos@courts.wa.gov, or Intisar.Surur@courts.wa.gov.


MARYLAND TO HOST THE WOMEN MOVING FORWARD CONFERENCE: A
COLLABORATIVE RE-ENTRY PROGRAM FOR WOMEN AT THE MARYLAND
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN, APRIL 8, 2018

Maryland will host its Annual Women Moving Forward Conference: A Collaborative Re-Entry Program for Women at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women on April 8, 2018. The objective of this conference is to provide approximately 150 women, who are within six to nine months of release, with resources and information necessary to support their successful return to the community. Resources include workshops on a variety of topics such as: housing and home ownership, money and credit management, obtaining medical insurance, educational opportunities, family reunification, re-entry mediation services, coping with trauma, substance abuse, mental health concerns, yoga, meditation, dealing with post-release legal issues, avoiding gangs, and tips on successfully navigating parole & probation requirements. Workshop topics also include: skill-building in parenting, anger management, positive thinking, employment preparation, including resume writing, job retention enhancement skills, and interviews with employers ready to hire upon the participant's release.

Conference participants receive a conference bag containing the conference program, a t-shirt, journal, toiletries and other assorted items which partners and partners and sponsors donate.

Conference programs for each year are available here.


ACTIVIST VAN JONES HIGHLIGHTS THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN BEHIND
BARS IN CNN VIDEO

Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice and NAWJ Women in Prison Committee Member Hon. Bernette J. Johnson is planning additional activity and collaboration with the Department of Corrections to improve the plight of women in Louisiana's prisons. She shares this CNN video which summarizes the problems of harassment and abuse women face in prison. Click here.


DISTRICT SIX DIRECTOR JUDGE SHEVA SIMS AND SHREVEPORT
NAWJ CONFERENCE FEATURED IN LOUISIANA RECORD

NAWJ District Six Director Judge Sheva M. Sims and the NAWJ Shreveport Conference was featured in the Louisiana Record. She describes to reporter Tomas Kassabaum her inspiration to organize the event and experience in planning the conference. You can read the article here.

Correction: Last month, NAWJ incorrectly identified the location of the District Six Conference Welcome Reception, which was held at the home of Attorney Jacqueline Scott. We also incorrectly identified Attorney Felicia Hamilton as the City Attorney. She is an Assistant City Attorney.



LANDMARK SPONSOR GEICO

The partnership between NAWJ and GEICO provides insurance discounts to NAWJ members. Contact GEICO for a free quote on auto insurance to see how much you could be saving. Remember to mention your NAWJ affiliation since 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 also can help you find great rates on homeowners, renters, motorcycle insurance, and more.


CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2018
April
On April 14, 2018, NAWJ District 4 will host its 11th Women Moving Forward Conference at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women. Contact Women Moving Forward Conference Co-Chair: Hon. Julia B. Weatherly (Ret.) (Circuit Court for Prince George's County). email: jbweatherly@co.pg.md.us.

Judges Charlene Padovani Kiesselbach and Suzanne Ramos Bolanos will hold their bi-annual San Francisco Color of Justice Program on April 17, 2018 at the Hiram Johnson State Office Building in San Francisco for students from Balboa and June Jordan Public High Schools. The Queen's Bench and California Women Lawyers will co-sponsor the program.

NAWJ Midyear Meeting, "The Emerging Legal Landscape: Navigating a Path to the Future," April 12-14, 2018, New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. Contact Conference Planner Wanda Mann at misswandamann@gmail.com for more information.

July
NAWJ Legislative Caucus Reception and Meeting, July 17-18, 2018. Details to follow.

October
NAWJ 40th Annual Conference, "Shaping the Future of Justice in the Emerging Legal Landscape" will take place in San Antonio, Texas from October 3-7, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

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