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NAWJ Monthly Update August 2016

Written by National Association of Women Judges|August 03, 2016|Monthly Update Archive

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August 2016

In This Issue:

National Association of Women Judges
The Honorable Lisa Walsh
NAWJ President

President's Message August 2016

Greetings from NAWJ.

With great anticipation and excitement, we are fast approaching the 38th Annual NAWJ Conference, to be held October 5-9, in Seattle, Washington at the Sheraton. Our exceptional conference planning committee, chaired by Justice Susan Owens, has planned a full roster of events, including:

• Challenges of Aging: Proactive or Reactive Response
• Stephanie Coontz
• Conversation With Washington's Three Women Law School Deans
• Sexual Assault on College Campuses
• Tribal State Court Consortiums
• Transgender People and the Courts: Ensuring Respect and Fairness
• Incarcerated Voices: The IF Project

To register online on our new website or for more information about the conference, please click here.

Included in this month's newsletter are the slate of nominations for officer positions for the 2016-17 NAWJ Board, a proposed bylaws change that addresses district directors and state chair positions, and a resolution encouraging trial judges to take diversity into account when appointing lawyers to important positions, all of which will be presented to the membership at our annual business meeting. I am proud to report that the resolution that NAWJ drafted has been adopted by the following national bar or judicial organizations: The Hispanic National Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Defense Research Institute, the Conference of Chief Justices, The Association of Defense Trial Advocates, and the Federation of Defense Corporate Counsel.

Please check your mail for Counterbalance, the next edition to be delivered to you soon.

Have a wonderful August.

Sincerely yours,

Lisa Walsh
President, NAWJ
11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade, Florida

PRESIDENT'S CALENDAR
August 4-8, 2016 - ABA Annual Conference San Francisco

September 7-8, 2016 - Kickoff for San Antonio Conference at Texas Judicial Conference

Faces of Justice
NAWJ 38th Annual Conference
October 5-9, 2016
The Sheraton Seattle Hotel • 1400 6th Ave. • Seattle, WA

CONFERENCE CHAIR
Justice Susan Owens, Washington Supreme Court
CO-CHAIRS
Justice Mary E. Fairhurst, Washington Supreme Court
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, Washington Supreme Court
Justice Sheryl G. McCloud, Washington Supreme Court
Justice Debra Stephens, Washington Supreme Court

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Judge Karen Donohue, Seattle Municipal Court
Judge Maggie Ross, Pierce County District Court

FRIENDS COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Ellen Conedera Dial, Esq., Perkins Coie
Nancy Isserlis, Esq.

CONFERENCE SPONSORS
PREMIER
Perkins Coie Foundation
GOLD
LexisNexis • Microsoft • Jane Powell PC • Starbucks
SILVER
Nintendo Inc • Pacific Law Group Seattle • Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt • Thomson Reuters
BRONZE
Keller Rohrback L.L.P. • Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton • Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch • Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters • Stokes Lawrence
SUPPORTER
Aoki Law • King County Bar Association • Talmadge/Fitzpatrick/Tribe • Washington State Bar Foundation

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome Reception
Challenges of Aging: Proactive or Reactive Response
Justice for Vets
Transgender People and the Courts: Ensuring Respect and Fairness
Ethical Issues for Judges in Dealing with Human Trafficking
Keynote Speaker Stephanie Coontz
Water Knows No Borders: New Challenges in Balancing State, Federal and Tribal Water Law Interests
Community Supervision of Female Offenders
Gender and Race in Law and Movies
Breakfast with the Deans of Law Schools in Washington State
Sexual Assault on College Campuses
Many Faces of Trafficking - Labor Trafficking: Underground Economy Workshop
Ensuring Access to Justice for Limited English Proficient and Near, Hard of Hearing
Tribal State Court Consortiums
Keynote Speaker Karen K. Narasaki
Implicit Bias and Cultural Awareness
Reception at the Experience Music Project Museum
Incarcerated Voices: The IF Project
Gala Banquet and Awards Ceremony

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES:
$525 for Members who are First-Time Attendees
$595 for NAWJ Members
$695 for Non-Member Attendees
$575 for Spouse and Children of Attendees

Register online here, or download and fax this registration form.

ROOM RESERVATIONS:
The conference host hotel is the Sheraton Seattle Hotel. Call (888) 627-7057 • NAWJ Rate: $229/night, plus applicable taxes, single or double occupancy.

For More Information Contact:
Conference Manager: Mary Kathleen Todd at mtodd@nawj.org


NAWJ Announces 2016-2017
Board of Directors Nomination Slate

The nominated slate is an ensemble of seasoned, experienced and dedicated NAWJ members from diverse regions and backgrounds. It will be another great year of board leadership!

In accordance with the NAWJ Bylaws, the Nominating Committee presents the following:

President
Hon. Diana Becton, Superior Court of California, Contra Costa County
(automatically assumes office)

President-Elect
Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy
New York State Supreme Court, New York County

Vice President, Districts
Hon. Marilyn G. Paja
Kitsap County District Court, Washington

Vice President, Publications
Hon. Jane Spencer Craney
Morgan Superior Court 3, Indiana

Treasurer
Hon. Tamila Ipema
Superior Court of California, San Diego County

Secretary
Hon. Kathy J. King
Supreme Court, Kings County, New York

NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Judge Julie E. Frantz, Multnomah County Circuit, Chair
Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Judge Bernice Donald, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Justice Nan Duffly, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Senior Justice Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court
Judge Jennifer Gee, U.S. Department of Labor
Judge Marcella Holland, Circuit Court for Baltimore City (Retired)
Judge Gladys Kessler, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Judge Brenda Loftin, St. Louis County Circuit Court (Retired)
Justice Judith McConnell, California Court of Appeal
Chief Justice Amy Nechtem, Massachusetts Juvenile Court
Judge Vanessa Ruiz, District of Columbia Court of Appeal
Justice Bea Ann Smith, Texas Court of Appeals (Retired)


Proposed NAWJ Bylaws Amendments

At this year's annual business meeting on October 8, 2016 during the annual conference, the Bylaws Committee will offer the following amendments found below. (You may view the changes as they appear in the current bylaws here.)

Article VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 6.

Insert as the first paragraph under this section (6):

It is the responsibility of each District Director upon assuming the position of District Director to review the duties of the position contained in the NAWJ Board of Directors Manual, and to particularly note the commitment to (1) participate in the monthly conferences calls, (2) attend the Midyear and Annual Board of Directors Meetings, and (3) to participate by a mode of communication which enables simultaneous audio exchanges if an irreconcilable conflict or emergency prevents in person attendance at a Midyear or Annual Board Meeting.

To assist the Directors in fulfilling their responsibilities throughout their respective districts, and to establish and maintain close communication within the District as to the issues being addressed by the NAWJ organization, District Directors may annually select a NAWJ member in each state within their District to serve as a State Chair. District Directors shall assign specific tasks to the State Chairs, and shall be advised of and authorize NAWJ activities and events undertaken by the State Chairs. State Chairs shall not assume the voting rights of the District Director.

AMEND the existing paragraph under Section 6 to read:

A District Director who is unable to attend a Midyear or Annual Board of Directors meeting for which a quorum is required due to an irreconcilable conflict or emergency situation, and further is unable to participate by a mode of communication which enables simultaneous audio exchanges in a Board of Directors meeting, has the authority to designate in writing a member of the district or a current Board member as a proxy. The document bearing the name of the proxy shall be transmitted to the President prior to the commencement of the meeting (or prior to the substitution of the proxy during a meeting.) If the proxy is a current Board member, the proxy shall assume all voting rights of the District Director for the duration of the meeting. If the proxy is not a current Board member, the proxy shall be encouraged to attend and participate in the discussions, but shall not assume the District Director's voting rights.


NAWJ Leads Affiliate Organizations with Resolution to
Diversify Trial Court Appoints

The NAWJ Executive and Resolutions Committees has approved the following resolution, which shall be presented for a vote at the Annual Business Meeting on October 8, 2016 in Seattle. In the wake of the Board drafting and approving this language, the following national voluntary bar and judicial organizations have approved our resolution within their respective organizations: The American Association for Justice, The Defense Research Institute, The Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, the Hispanic National Bar Association. The following organizations are considering this resolution within their organizations: The National Bar Association, The American Board of Trial Advocates, the Conference of Chief Justices, and the American Bar Association, Judicial Division.

RESOLUTION ON DIVERSITY IN TRIAL COURT APPOINTMENTS

Whereas, in exercising discretionary judicial authority to appoint lawyers to various positions (e.g., lead counsel for plaintiff classes; special masters; receivers; trustees; hearing officers; referees; mediators and arbitrators; guardians; and counsel for indigent defendants), trial courts have not appointed women lawyers, minority lawyers and lawyers in small law firms to such positions in numbers commensurate with their representation in the legal profession;

Whereas, there are ample numbers of such diverse lawyers who are experienced and highly qualified for appointments by trial courts;

Whereas, the justice system as a whole has become increasingly diverse, including diverse judges, juries and litigants;

Whereas, research establishes that diversity enhances creativity and innovation, and leads to better decision-making and problem solving;

Whereas, a fundamental underlying goal of the justice system is to provide equal treatment and opportunity for everyone; and

Whereas, litigants and the justice system as a whole benefit from greater diversity in trial court appointments;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that, in exercising their appointment powers, our trial courts, both federal and state, should be mindful of the importance of diversity and should make appointments that are consistent with the diversity of our society and the justice system.


NAWJ Awards Committee Seeks Nominations
for Annual Hon. Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year Award
and Florence K. Murray Award

NAWJ Executive Committee and President to Consider Candidates for
Mattie Belle Davis Award and Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award

Deadline: AUGUST 5, 2016

The NAWJ Awards Committee requests nominations for the Honorable Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year Award and for the Florence K. Murray Award. Nominations will be accepted until the deadline of AUGUST 5, 2016. To assist you in nominating candidates for these two awards, click here for application guidelines for the KLEIN Award, and here for the MURRAY Award.

In addition, the Executive Committee and the President will respectively select 2016 honorees for the Mattie Belle Davis Award and the Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award. Click here to review guidelines for the Mattie Belle Davis and Justice Vaino Spencer Awards.

Awards will be given out during the 38th Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.

Please submit completed nominations no later than AUGUST 5, 2016 to mkomisar@nawj.org by mail or fax to:

National Association of Women Judges
Attn: Hon. Amy L. Nechtem
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1138
Washington, D.C. 20036
Fax: 202-393-0125

AWARDS COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Judge Claudia Barber, District of Columbia Administrative Office of Hearings
Judge Diana Becton, Contra Costa County Superior Court
Judge Diana S. Eagon, Hennepin County District Court (Retired)
Senior Justice Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court
Judge Brenda Loftin, St. Louis County Circuit Court (Retired)
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, Washington State Supreme Court
Judge Vanessa Ruiz, District of Columbia Court of Appeals


Sail with NAWJ from Boston to Montreal
on Holland America's ms Maasdam Line
May 20-27, 2017

2017 New England Cruise Schedule
Saturday - 20 May 2017
Depart 4:00 pm Boston, Massachusetts

Sunday - 21 May 2017
Arrive 7:00 am Bar Harbor, Maine - Depart 3:00 pm

Monday - 22 May 2017
Arrive 9:00 am Halifax, Nova Scotia - Depart 6:00 pm

Tuesday - 23 May 2017
Arrive 11:00 am Sydney, Nova Scotia - Depart 6:00 pm

Wednesday - 24 May 2017
Arrive 11:00 am Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - Depart 6:00 pm

Thursday - 25 May 2017
Cruising the Gulf of Saint Lawrence

Friday - 26 May 2017
Arrive 7:00 am Quebec - Depart 6:00 pm
Cruising the Saint Lawrence River

Saturday - 27 May 2017
Arrive 7:00 am Montreal, Quebec, Canada

ACCOMMODATIONS Per Person Fares*
Interior Stateroom $759
Ocean-View Stateroom $959
Vista Suite $2,199

Taxes, fees and port expenses are an additional $210 and subject to change. *Assuming double occupancy. Single occupancy 200% of cruise fares.

ROOM PAYMENT
Download and complete this cruise cabin reservation form and mail, fax or email to:
Nancy Curtis, 2334 Vista Valley Lane, Vista, California 92084. Fax: 760-295-7733
Email: curtistravel2@gmail.com

REGISTRATION
NAWJ registration fee includes an education session, reception after disembarking in Montreal with Canadian members of IAWJ, and a cruise memento.

NAWJ REGISTRATION FEE
EARLYBIRD $125 NAWJ/IAWJ Members/Guest. REGISTER BY DECEMBER 31, 2016.
After December $150 NAWJ/IAWJ Members/Guests

Complete and fax/ mail/email this registration form to:
National Association of Women Judges
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1138
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Fax: (202) 393-0125.
Email: plovett@calibrecpa.com

Registration must be received by NAWJ no later than your final payment to the cruise line.

For more details, or to inquire about roommate matching, contact cruise coordinator Nancy Curtis at curtistravel2@gmail.com.


Women in Prison Committee Visits the Metropolitan Detention
Center in Brooklyn, New York

Please read the report of National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) Women in Prison Committee (WIP)'s second visit (June 3, 2016) to the Bureau of Prison's Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York here.

The federal women's prison at Danbury, Connecticut, closed in December 2013. BOP "temporarily" re-located the Danbury women to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) located in Brooklyn, New York. The MDC consists of two buildings, eight and nine stories high. The women are held in a housing unit on an upper floor. One of the visitors Women in Prison Committee Co-Chair Brenda Williams reports:

"The conditions are scandalous…to forbid the sun to shine on their territory. That deprivation in itself makes people crazy, never to see the outside world. As your report says, the conditions are "unconscionable" and, in violating the minimal standards, ought to be cause for demotion or legal action against the administrators. It is hideous to read about--no programs, no doctors, no proper food, no outdoor time. Inhumane in every respect. And clearly nobody is listening to the women--whether in general or in particular. No counseling, no facilitating employment. Nothing but emotional abuse."

Judge Cheryl J. Gonzales, Chair of the New York Chapter of the NAWJ's WIP, Judge Robin S. Garson, and NAWJ WIP Co-Chairs, Judge Brenda P. Murray and Judge Betty J. Williams, visited MDC on March 20, 2015, and again on June 3, 2016.

Again, you may read their report here.


International Outreach's
Judicial Exchange Program Subcommittee

Judge Teresa Guerrero-Daley, who chairs the Judicial Exchange subcommittee of NAWJ's International Outreach Committee, reminds anyone interested in exchange that the subcommittee has created a Judicial Exchange Program form. The form may be used to communicate where and when you will be traveling, along with other travel details, to assist the committee in matching an appropriate host.

You may download the form here. For additional information contact Judge Teresa Guerrero-Daley at Tguerrero-daley@scscourt.org.


Landmark Sponsor GEICO

Part of NAWJ and GEICO's partnership provides insurance discounts to NAWJ members. Contact GEICO for a free quote on auto insurance to see how much you could be saving. And, don't forget to mention your NAWJ affiliation; 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 can also help you find great rates on homeowners, renters, motorcycle insurance, and more.


Calendar of Programs and Events
2016
October
NAWJ 37th Annual Conference will take place in Seattle, Washington from October 5-9, 2016 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.

2017
October
NAWJ 38th Annual Conference will take place in Atlanta, Georgia from October 11-15, 2017 at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.

2018
October
NAWJ 39th Annual Conference will take place in San Antonio, Texas from October 3-7, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk.

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