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Laguna Beach Brings Out the Sunshine
For a midyear respite, NAWJ came out to the sunny shores of Laguna Beach to partake in a stunning
combination of educational programs, the arts and natural beauty of this artistic venue. The entire
board and all of the district directors were present as well as both of our immediate Past Presidents
and one of our founding mothers, Justice Joan Dempsey Klein. The beachfront Surf and Sand Resort in
Laguna Beach was the scene, showcasing the home county of our President Marjorie Laird Carter while
bringing NAWJ to the local legal community. The Conference was chaired by Judge Carter and her
co-chairs Judge (ret.) Donna Crandall and Judge Jamoa Moberly, District 14 Director. They were proudly
assisted by local NAWJ Judges, John Adams, Elaine Streger and Kim Hubbard. The Friends Committee was
chaired by past Presidents of the Orange County Lawyers and/ or Orange County Women Lawyers, Ashleigh
Aitken, Michelle Reinglass and Solange Ritchie. The focus of the conference was team building while
also presenting cutting edge topics involving immigrants, human trafficking and the contrast of
Hollywood’s portrayal of African Americans versus ten decades of US Supreme Court decisions. With the
help of Mother Nature, the conference was a great success and provides great momentum for the upcoming
Annual Conference in Newark.
at March Mid-Year Leadership Conference
For Early Arrivals, Mission San Juan Capistrano, whales and dolphins 
With an early wake-up call to many on the West Coast, our conference started on schedule and with
good fortune, no tsunami. On arrival the attendees were given a Laguna Beach beach bag courtesy of
the Chamber of Commerce, distributed by our wonderful volunteers from Whittier Law School. Our first
session was kicked off by a proud welcome from the Assistant Mayor of Laguna Beach, Jane Egly.
Removing Obstacles to Justice for Immigrants – the Relevance of Immigration Status for Criminal, Family,
Juvenile and Civil Courts
Hon. Joan Churchill, Immigration Judge (ret.) and Projects Chair, moderated a distinguished panel discussion
on the topic of immigration status and how it interfaces with criminal, family, juvenile and civil law -
relevant topics for the full range of our membership. We were fortunate to have experts from across the
country appear as panelists: Hon. Dana Leigh Marks, President, National Association of Immigration Judges,
San Francisco; Dr. John A. Martin, Director, Center for Public Policy Studies, Immigration & the State Courts
Initiative, Center for Public Policy Studies, Denver; Leslye E. Orloff, Esq., Vice President and Director,
Immigrant Women Program, Legal Momentum, Washington D.C.; and Steve Weller, J.D., Ph.D., Senior Consultant,
Center for Public Policy Studies, Immigration & the State Courts Initiative, Denver. After the introduction
from our President, Marjorie Laird Carter, Dr. Martin spoke on the importance for all types of judges to
understand immigration issues. Judge Marks and Steve Weller followed with a very succinct primer on
immigration and the consequences of criminal convictions including temporary restraining orders for both
victims and perpetrators. Leslye Orloff explained the intersection of immigration issues with violence
against women, child custody and human trafficking. Most of us came away with the idea that this topic
should be included in our local and state judicial training programs. NAWJ has applied for a grant to
hopefully assist with that goal. The topic addressed by each speaker would have justified a separate
session and the intersection of their subject areas reinforced the pervasive nature of these issues for
most of us as immigration increases.
NAWJ Scholarship Awarded to Chapman University Law Student
Actress, Activist and Documentary Filmmaker Darryl Hannah Makes a Serious
Splash on the Subject of Sex Trafficking
Justice and award winning author, Eileen Moore on 'Race Results: Hollywood vs. the Supreme Court – Ten
Decades of Racial Decisions and Film'
District Directors Meeting and Board Meetings
Trolleys and a Sunset Jazz Reception on the Beach Cliff Grounds of the Montage
See you all in Newark! Jamoa Moberly
HOST HOTEL
REGISTRATION
Please click here to download the tentative conference schedule (subject to change).
SPONSORS
Gold: $5,000
Skorheim & Associates, AAC The Law Offices of Steven R. Young
Silver: $2,500
Bronze: $1,000
Supporter
Individual
SPONSOR THE MIDYEAR CONFERENCE Friends Committee Chairs:
Friends Committee: Sponsorship Levels Available (Click here to download information.): As a $10,000 Platinum Sponsor, your firm/company will be prominently recognized as a Sponsor of the entire Conference, including promotional materials preceding the Conference, as well as educational, networking and social events during the Conference. Your Platinum Sponsorship will entitle your firm/company to the following benefits:
As a $5,000 Gold Sponsor, your firm/company will be prominently recognized as a Gold Sponsor of the Conference, including promotional materials preceding the Conference, as well as educational, networking and social events during the Conference. Your Gold Sponsorship will entitle your firm/company to the following benefits:
As a $2,500 Silver Sponsor, your firm/company will receive:
As a $1,000 Bronze Sponsor, your firm/company will receive:
As a $500 Individual Sponsor, you will receive:
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Compliments of the host District 14 and Justice Klein, early arrivals to the Surf and Sand Resort were
whisked away by luxury bus to tour Mission San Juan Capistrano of swallows fame and then on to
spectacular Dana Point harbor. While too early for the swallows, there were whales and dolphins
in the harbor. The evening was capped by a no-host jazz dinner at French 75 across the street from the resort.
At the luncheon for all attendees and sponsors, Judge Jamoa Moberly as District 14 Director and
conference co-chair welcomed everyone and introduced President Marjorie Laird Carter. Judge Carter,
a graduate of Chapman University, presented the NAWJ Scholarship to Whitney Stefko who is currently in
her second year at Chapman’s law school. Whitney is a member of the law school’s Alternate Dispute Resolution
Board and will be representing Chapman at an international mediation competition in London at the end of
March. Outside of law school, Whitney spends every Sunday working with an autistic child and is passionate
about raising awareness and acceptance of children with special needs.
On a sunny patio overlooking the Pacific, actress Darryl Hannah showed just how far she has come from the days
she portrayed a mermaid in Manhattan! Introduced by Judge (ret.) Donna Crandall, Judge (ret.) Judy Chirlin,
“Judge Judy” as Darryl Hannah referred to her, conducted a candid conversation with Ms. Hannah on her personal
experiences as an undercover filmmaker in Southeast Asia and as a naïve young girl lured to Las Vegas. While
she was fortunate to escape and fly home before anything happened to her, she feels compelled to help those
not so fortunate or empowered. Filmed at great personal risk, she talked about her experiences filming her
still unfinished documentary on the lives of women and girls trapped in the brothels of Southeast Asia. An
environmental activist too, she spoke of her commitment to leaving a small footprint in all regards from her
eco-friendly home to her bio-diesel car which she drove to our conference. Ms. Hannah has certainly come a
long way from the scenes we all recall of her splashing around Manhattan as a mermaid character. Afterwards
she generously spoke individually with many of our members on the serious subject of trafficking.
Saturday was devoted to meetings of the board and the district directors. We were fortunate that the entire
board and all the district directors were in attendance. Justice Klein joined us for the Districts meeting.
Her vision and enthusiasm are contagious. She urges us to help NAWJ expand its mission in pursuit of what
our members - current and prospective - are passionate about. As an outgrowth of much discussion it was
decided that for the balance of 2011 the new member dues would be reduced as well as the registration for
first time annual conference attendees. Every District is challenged to report at least one event planned
for a date before the fall. The Color of Justice and the Speed Mentor programs are two which are flourishing
in multiple districts. If you need help or inspiration, districts are urged to call on one another. At the
full board meeting the exciting plans for the Newark conference were presented. More to come!
What better way to cap off a wonderful meeting than a late afternoon trolley tour of Laguna Beach carrying
all of the board and remaining attendees. After photo shoots above the surf, we all were taken by the
trolleys down to south Laguna Beach to the “other” resort, The Montage. There we were greeted on our
arrival by our NAWJ member and host, Judge John Adams of the Orange County Superior Court. He was also
instrumental in arranging for the beach bags. Elizabeth Pearson, a member of the Laguna Beach City Council
was also on hand to welcome us. We relaxed, watched the sunset from the elegant grass terrace above the
surf serenaded by a great jazz saxophonist, and celebrated a very successful team building conference.
