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January 2013
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In This Issue:
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Happy New Year and Very Best Wishes for 2013!
With the District Directors bubbling with plans under the leadership of Vice President of Districts, Hon.
Ariane Vuono, and committee assignments nearly completed, many already humming with activity under the
leadership of Committee Chairs Coordinator Hon. Sandra Robinson, we can all look forward to an exciting
action packed year. Thanks to all of you who signed up to be on committees, and who agreed to serve as
committee chairs and District Directors. You are the heart and soul of NAWJ.
A position statement concerning the Violence Against Women Act and Tribal Court jurisdiction was adopted
by NAWJ in December. The position statement [see below for the text] was distributed to the White House
Office on Violence Against Women and to the United States House and Senate leadership in time for
consideration by the outgoing Congress. Thanks go to NAWJ member Hon. Katherine Hansen for bringing the
matter to our attention, and to the Domestic Violence Committee, Tribal Judges Outreach Sub-Committee,
and the Ethics Committee for their expeditious consideration of the statement and referral to the Board.
Many Thanks for the many generous contributions to the Annual NAWJ Year End Campaign. If you haven't
already, it is not too late to send a contribution. NAWJ depends heavily on contributions, as dues
revenues cover only a small fraction of the expenses.
As 2012 ends, we acknowledge and give thanks to our very devoted staff.
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NAWJ Position Statement on the U.S. Congress
Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization
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POSITION STATEMENT on VAWA REAUTHORIZATION
NAWJ is the nation's leading voice for women jurists dedicated to preserving judicial
independence and ensuring equal justice and access to the courts for women, minorities,
and other historically disfavored groups. In accordance with this mission, NAWJ supports
reauthorization of VAWA in a form that protects all victims of domestic violence and dating
violence, including tribal victims living on reservations. Specifically, to improve the
administration of justice, NAWJ supports the approach of the Senate version of the VAWA bill,
which contains Section 904, a provision that would restore tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians
for certain crimes of domestic violence and dating violence committed in Indian Country.
It is important that VAWA protect all victims of domestic violence, including those tribal
members who are victims of domestic violence committed in Indian Country.
Adopted by the Board at its Executive Committee Meeting
December 17, 2012
Joan V. Churchill
Honorable Joan V. Churchill
President, NAWJ
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State Justice Institute Continues a Partnership
with NAWJ on Immigration and Human Trafficking
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NAWJ developed materials and presented trainings for hundreds of judges across the nation on
immigration and human trafficking issues through a State Justice Institute (SJI) grant.
Additional national and regional human trafficking training programs will be provided in the 2013 year. Click
here to continue reading a summary of NAWJ 2012 presentations in SJI News.
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2013 Midyear Leadership Conference
& Annual Meeting with Congress
May 2-4, 2013
The Washington Court Hotel
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
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Click
here
to register online. Or, download this
registration form.
Conference registration fees are $375 for NAWJ members, $475 for non-members, and $325 for
guests who are spouses and children of conference attendees.
Room Reservations: (800) 321-3010 or (202) 628-2100
NAWJ Rate: $179/night, plus applicable taxes, single or double occupancy.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Hon. Joan V. Churchill, Chair
Hon. Claudia Barber
Hon. Anna Blackburne-Rigsby
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Hon. Gladys Kessler
Hon. Noel Kramer
Hon. Vanessa Ruiz
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HOST COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs:
Nicole Erb, Esq., White and Case, LLP
Elaine Metlin, Esq., Dickstein Shapiro LLP
Members:
David Dorsen, Esq., Sedgwick LLP
Tia Fenton, Esq., Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Lisa Horowitz, Esq., McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Hon. Lauren Best Leeker, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Julie Silverbrook, The Constitutional Sources Project
Amy Wigmore, Esq., Wilmer Hale
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
THURSDAY, MAY 2
Joint program with the Shakespeare Theatre Bard Association on Henry V
and Rights of Women to Confer Benefits on Men.
Meeting with Members of Congress
Reception hosted by the law firm
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
FRIDAY, MAY 3
NAWJ Board of Directors Meeting
Private, behind the scenes tour of the
United States Supreme Court,
a forum examining judicial independence issues faced by special courts as compared with general courts,
followed by a reception hosted by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
SATURDAY, MAY 4
All day training on Human Trafficking
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October 9-13, 2013
The Ritz-Carlton
New Orleans, Louisiana
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Register online
here,
or download and fax
this registration form.
Conference registration fees:
$595 for NAWJ members ($550 before May 6)
$525 for members who are first-time attendees
$625 for non-members
Room Reservations: (504) 524-1331 or (800)-542-8680
NAWJ Rate: $245/night, plus applicable taxes, single or double occupancy
CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS
Judge Mary Hotard Becnel • Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson
Education Co-Chairs
Judicial: Judge Phyllis Keaty, Third Circuit Court of Appeal, Louisiana
Judge Laurie White, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
Academic: Professor Kathryn Venturatos Lorio, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Professor Sally J. Kenney, Executive Director, Newcomb College Institute
Social Events Co-Chairs
Judge Rosemary Ledet, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, Louisiana
Judge Laurie White, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Louisiana
Finance Chair
Judge Joy Cossich Lobrano, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, Louisiana
Volunteers Co-Chairs
Judge Ethel Simms Julien, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Louisiana
Judge Bernadette G. D'Souza, Orleans Parish Civil District Court (Family) Louisiana
Registration Co-Chairs
Judge June Berry Darensburg, 24th Judicial District Court, Louisiana
Judge Tiffany Chase, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Louisiana
FRIENDS CO-CHAIRS:
Kim M. Boyle, Esq., Partner, Phelps Dunbar LLP
Matthew Moreland, Esq., Associate, Becnel Law Firm LLC
Kara Hadican Samuels, Esq., Partner, Sangisetty
CONFERENCE TOPICS
IMMIGRATION ISSUES IN THE COURTS
The impact of immigration issues pervading all aspects of state and federal courts.
PRISON REVIEW
Innovations in sentencing that reduce recidivism and costs, such as alternative
sentencing, re-entry programs, diversionary programs, and featuring the NAWJ Women in Prison Project.
REPRODUCTIVE LEGAL ISSUES
How science, technology and nontraditional unions raise new legal issues in the areas
of reproduction and custody.
GENDER AND JUSTICE
An examination of the role of gender in the judicial selection process, state judicial races,
and the treatment of women judges; judicial history of women judges.
TRAFFICKING
The recognition and impact of this international issue in our federal and state courts.
THE JUDGE AS PUBLIC SERVANT
Discussion of conflicts between the roles of the judge and the public servant; judicial outreach
initiatives, and public service opportunities post-retirement.
MILITARY AND VETERANS JUSTICE
Examination of progress made regarding sexual assault cases and a discussion of the need
for Veterans specialty courts.
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Vice President of Publications Judge Tanya R. Kennedy
Calls for Submissions for the Next Issue of Counterbalance
Deadline: May 1, 2013
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NAWJ's Winter 2012 issue of Counterbalance
is available now and will be mailed during January. For those waiting to receive news from
the NAWJ Districts, you can download the issue
here.
Recognition goes to 2012 Vice-President of Publications Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby for including
in the Counterbalance, for the first time,
"The New Judges Corner." A big thank you to Judges Antoinette "Toni" Leoney and Jamoa Moberly,
NAWJ's energetic members of the New Judge Committee.
"The New Judges Corner" will provide an important forum for welcoming new judges to NAWJ.
Counterbalance informs and connects our members around
the country by featuring news and information which highlights NAWJ's educational programs
and activities. Consider sharing news from your jurisdiction with fellow colleagues in
the newsletter. If you know of women judges in your state who have been recently elected,
appointed, promoted or honored, 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 MAY 1, 2013.
Look for the spring issue in June 2013 after May's Midyear in Washington, D.C. 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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NAWJ ANNOUNCES INITIAL 2013 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
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NAWJ President Joan V. Churchill has completed NAWJ Committee assignments for 2013.
Click here to review chairs and members by committee. It is not too late
to your indicate interest in being appointed to a committee. Email Lavinia at
lcousin@nawj.org to indicate your interest, or relay
any updates or changes.
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Events
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2013
IAWJ Regional Conference: Latin America and Caribbean Region will take place March 14-15, 2013 in
Iguazu, Misiones, Argentina. All NAWJ members are members of IAWJ and are invited to attend IAWJ
conferences. Contact IAWJ at 202-223-4455 for more conference details.
NAWJ District 4 District of Columbia Chapter will present "iPad and iPad Apps for Judges" on
March 5, 2013 at the District of Columbia Superior Court. Event is free and open to all NAWJ
members. Email Lavinia Cousin at lcousin@nawj.org to RSVP or
for more information.
NAWJ District 4 District of Columbia Chapter will present "So You Think You Want to Write a Book"
on March 28, 2013 at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Event is free and
open to all NAWJ members. Call Lavinia Cousin at 202-393-0222 for more information.
NAWJ Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference will take place May 2-4, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
The host hotel is the Washington Court Hotel.
IAWJ Regional Conference: Asia/Pacific Region will place May 9-12, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.
NAWJ 35th Annual Conference will take place October 9-13, 2013 at
The Ritz Carlton in
New Orleans, Louisiana.
2014
The International Association of Women Judges Bi-Annual Conference will take place May 6-9, 2014
in Tanzania. Click here
for more conference details.
NAWJ 36th Annual Conference will take place October 15-19, 2014 at
Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, California.
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