NAWJ 40th Annual Conference

Oct 03, 2018 - All day - Oct 07, 2018

Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk

123 Losoya Street

San Antonio, TX 78205

Event Details

Annual Conference Attendee Survey

NAWJ thanks all attendees and participants for sharing our experience of the NAWJ 2018 Annual Conference. Please take a moment to share your thoughts, and complete a survey here.

Conference Planning Committee

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS  

Hon. Orlinda Naranjo
Judge, 419th District Court
Austin, TX

Laura G. Tamez, Esq.
Partner, the Herrera Law Firm
San Antonio, TX
 
EDUCATION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS  

Justice Eva Guzman
Texas Supreme Court
Austin, TX

Justice Gina Benavides
Thirteenth Court of Appeals
Edinburg, TX
FRIENDS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS  

Chief Justice Catherine M. Stone (Ret.)
Fourth Court of Appeals
Shareholder, Langley & Banack, Inc.
San Antonio, TX

Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson (Ret.)
Supreme Court of Texas
Partner, Alexander Dubose Jefferson Townsend LLP
Austin, TX

Conference Schedule of Events

(Subject to change.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018

8:00 am - 6:00 pm REGISTRATION
9:00 am - 3:00 pm 2017-18 NAWJ Board of Directors Meeting
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Private Riverwalk Boat Cruise

 

An optional excursion that is an entertaining Riverwalk Boat Cruise along the San Antonio River and the city's rich history and culture , and a networking social with legal and business professionals. Limited to two Boats @ 25 People/Boat. Fee is $15/person. Register here.
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm New Judges and First time Member Meeting
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm International Judges Meeting
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm WELCOME RECEPTION in the GARDEN TERRACE

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2018

8:00 am - 6:00 pm REGISTRATION
7:00 am - 7:45 am Free Zumba Class
7:30 am - 8:30 am NAWJ Committee Meetings
7:30 am - 8:30 am NAWJ Resource Board Meeting
7:30 am - 8:45 am BREAKFAST
9:00 am - 9:30 am OPENING CEREMONY

 

NAWJ PRESIDENT
Honorable Tanya R. Kennedy
New York State Supreme Court, New York County

 

NAWJ 40TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE CHAIRS
Honorable Orlinda L. Naranjo
419th District Court, Travis Court, Travis County, Texas

 

Laura G. Tamez, Esq., Partner,
The Herrera Law Firm, San Antonio, Texas

 

Texas Supreme Court Justices
Honorable Eva Guzman and Honorable Debra Lehrmann

 

Erika Prosper Nirenberg, First Lady of San Antonio

 

The National Anthem
Dr. Patsy Torres, One of the “Top Female Tejano Stars”

 

Presentation of the Mattie Belle Davis Award to
Karen Johnson-McKewan, Esq., Co-Chair, NAWJ Resource Board
by NAWJ President Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy
9:30 am - 10:30 am PUBLIC POLICY'S ROLE IN JUDGING
Judge David Carter
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
10:30 am - 10:45 am Break
10:45 am - 11:45 am ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND THE JUDICIARY
Harriet Miers, Esq., Locke Lord LLP
First Woman President of the Texas Bar Association
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm KEYNOTE LUNCHEON

 

TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND THE AMERICAN WAY
Keynote Speaker - Dan Rather
President and CEO of News and Guts
1:45 pm - 2:45 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS

 

Session 1: DARK WEB AND VIRTUAL CURRENCIES
Una A. Dean, Esq., Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Dixie L. Johnson, Esq., Partner, King & Spalding
Marjorie J. Peerce, Esq., Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP

 

Session 2: LUCIA V. SEC: CONSEQUENCES OF EXPANDING JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES
Anton Metlitsky, Esq., O'Melvany & Meyers LLP
Professor of Law Gillian Metzger, Columbia Law School
Chief Administrative Law Judge Brenda Murray, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Professor of Law Richard J. Pierce, Jr., George Washington University

 

Session 3: ETHICS ROUNDTABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL JUDGES
Hon. Judith Chirlin, Executive Director, Western Justice Center,
Los Angeles Superior Court (Retired)
Judge Lisette Shirdan-Harris, Judge, Court of Common
Pleas, First Judicial District, PA, NAWJ International Director

 

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm

ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW INITIATIVE
Hon. Toni E. Clarke, Circuit Court for Prince Georges County, Maryland, NAWJ ABA Delegate

 

3:30 pm - 3:45 pm Break
3:45 pm - 5:15 pm CONVERSATIONS WITH NAWJ LEGENDS

 

Presiding Justice Judith McConnell, California Court of Appeal Fourth Appellate District, Division One
will interview Senior Judge Martha Craig (Cissy) Daughtrey
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

 

Chief Justice (Retired) Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court
will interview Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby,
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm RECEPTION AT THE ALAMO SPONSORED BY THE CENTER FOR WOMEN IN LAW

 

 

In addition to the reception, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm attendees have the option of a Private Tour of the Alamo that retraces the footsteps of the past in the solitude of an Alamo after-hours tour. This exclusive visit is an unforgettable experience for out-of-town guests. It will include a personalized tour of the Church and the Long Barrack Museum after normal operating hours. Fee is $30/Person. Register here
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm Free evening
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm Hospitality Suite Sponsored by Los Angeles 2019 Annual Conference Committee

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018

7:00 am - 6:00 pm REGISTRATION
7:00 am - 7:45 am Free Zumba Class
7:00 am - 8:15 am BREAKFAST
8:15 am - 9:15 am #METOO, EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION
Wendy McGuire Coats, Esq., Partner, Fisher Phillips
Jocelyn Frye, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Justice Rebeca C. Martinez, Texas Fourth Court of Appeals
9:15 am - 10:30 am CONCURRENT SESSIONS

 

Session 1: A SYSTEM IN CRISIS; MENTAL HEALTH AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Hon. Milton L. Mack, Jr.,
Michigan State Court Administrator

 

Session 2: RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY AND THE JUDICIARY
Sharon Navarro, Ph.D., University of Texas at San Antonio
10:45 am - 12:00 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS

 

Session 1: DEMENTIA IN THE COURTROOM
Robert Abrams, Esq., Co-founder and Executive Partner,
Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP
Ellyn S. Kravitz, Esq., Partner, Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP

 

Session 2: SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE JUDICIARY
Cynthia Gray Director, Center for Judicial Ethics,
National Center for State Courts
Judge M. Sue Kurita, County Court at Law #6, Texas
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm LUNCHEON

 

Remarks from Jill Dash, Esq., Vice President of Strategic Engagement, American Constitution Society

 

THE SOCIAL MEDIA LANDSCAPE: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Monika Bickert, Head of Product Policy and Counterterrorism for Facebook

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Neuroscience of Judicial Decision-Making (Part One)
Speaker: Kimberly Papillon, Esq., Judicial Professor, California Judicial Council
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm Break
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS

 

Session 1: THE INTERSECTION OF POPULAR OPINION AND JUDICIAL DECISIONMAKING IN THE FEDERAL TRIAL COURTS
Chief Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn, U.S. District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
Magistrate Judge Rebecca A. Rutherford, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

 

Session 2: JUDGES AND JUSTICES UNDER ATTACK:
HOW THE INFORMED VOTERS PROJECT CAN HELP!
Annette Boyd Pitts, Education Chair, Informed Voters- Fair Judges Project (NAWJ); Executive Director, Florida Law Related Education Association
Justice Robin Hudson, Supreme Court of North Carolina, NAWJ Judicial Independence Committee Co-Chair
Justice Barbara J. Pariente, Florida Supreme Court, NAWJ Judicial Independence Committee Co-Chair
Speaker: Kimberly Papillon, Esq., Senior Education Specialist, California Judicial Council

Attempts to politicize the courts and influence judicial selection processes are growing. From Iowa to Florida to Kansas, and many states in-between, such attempts have targeted the removal of judges for specific decisions unpopular with special interests or the political majority.  But the courts were not intended to be a political or representative branch, swaying in the wind of public opinion. Judges should make decisions based on the facts and the law. Numerous national polls and surveys document the limited knowledge held by Americans about our government, and its corresponding institutions and processes. This session will highlight the vulnerabilities of the judicial branch in the midst of these present day challenges.

 

To ensure an educated and informed public, one that is aware of the role of the courts in our constitutional structure, the National Association of Women Judges has created the Informed Voters, Fair Judges Project. This model educational program is designed to bring public attention to the role of the courts, judicial decision-making, and judicial selection processes, as well as the present-day challenges threatening a fair and impartial judiciary and ultimately the rule of law. This session will highlight current new resources and opportunities available through the project

Session 3: NEUROSCIENCE OF JUDICIAL DECISION-MAKING (Part Two)
(Part Two)
Speaker: Kimberly Papillon, Esq., Judicial Professor, California Judicial Council
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Dine Arounds and Riverwalk Boat Tours
(Free evening on your own.)
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Hospitality Suite Hosted by the Bexar County Women's Bar Association

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018

7:30 am - 8:30 am REGISTRATION
7:30 am - 8:45 am NAWJ Annual Business Meeting (Continental Breakfast)
9:00 am - 10:00 am UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT UPDATE
Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd, Texas Supreme Court
10:00 am - 10:10 am VIDEO FROM NAWJ'S #WETOO IN THE LEGAL WORKPLACE MEETING ON CAPITOL HILL
Justice Tanya R. Kennedy, New York State Supreme Court, New York County
10:30 am - 12:15 pm CONVERSATION WITH JUDGE VANESSA RUIZ
President, International Association of Women Judges and introduction of documentary, THE JUDGE.
  Film screening of THE JUDGE (duration 82 minutes)
THE JUDGE offers a unique portrait of Judge Kholoud—her brave journey as a lawyer, her tireless fight for justice for women, and her drop-in visits with clients, friends, and family. With unparalleled access to the courts, THE JUDGE presents an unfolding vérité legal drama, with rare insight into both Islamic law and gendered justice. In the process, the film illuminates some of the universal conflicts in the domestic life of Palestine—custody of children, divorce, abuse—while offering an unvarnished look at life for women and Shari'a. Directed by Erika Cohn.
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm NAWJ Judicial Independence Committee Meeting
Informed-Voters Fair Judges Project
1:45 pm - 3:45 pm 2018-2019 NAWJ Board of Directors Meeting
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm NAWJ District Directors Meeting
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm COCKTAIL RECEPTION
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm NAWJ ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET

 

SILENT AUCTION

 

Featuring works by Conspire Theatre
The Gala dinner features performance by Conspire Theatre of Austin, Texas. Conspire Theatre’s mission is to offer incarcerated women and their allies a healing and empowering experience through theatre and creative writing. Their vision is that every woman realizes her potential as a creative, worthy being.

 

EMCEE: Maria Elena Torralva Alonzo
Former News Anchor for KMOL-TV and the first Latina to anchor a newscast at the local and national level, Maria Elena Torralva Alonzo is married to Judge Al Alonzo.

 

NAWJ 2018 AWARD HONOREES

 

Justice Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year
Hon. Bea Ann Smith (Ret.), NAWJ President 2002-2003

 

Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award:
Hon. Bernadette D’Souza, NAWJ Secretary
Hon. Marcella A. Holland, NAWJ Project Chair
Hon. Lisa S. Walsh, NAWJ President 2015-2016

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2018

8:00 am - 10:00 am FAREWELL BREAKFAST

Hotel

Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk

123 Losoya Street, San Antonio, Texas 76205

 

NAWJ has secured rooms at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, at the rate of $229 per night, plus applicable state and local taxes, single or double occupancy. For reservations, click here or call 1-888-421-1442 and state that you are with the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) to get the reduced rate.

 

Hotel reservations must be made by September 10, 2018 to guarantee the conference rate. Room blocks frequently fill before the cut-off date and are subject to availability. Early booking is recommended.

 

Visit the hotel's website here.

Optional Excursions: River Walk Boat Cruise and Alamo Tour Sign Up

PRIVATE RIVER WALK BOAT CRUISE – OCTOBER 3RD

 

Join us for an entertaining River Walk boat cruise along the San Antonio River. Take this opportunity to enjoy the city’s rich history and culture while networking with other legal and business professionals.

 

Date: Wednesday, October 3rd

Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Cost: $15/Person

Limit: 50 People Total (Two Boats @ 25 People/Boat)

 

Hurry! Space is limited!

Click here to register and make your payment for the private River Walk boat cruise! Don’t miss out.

____

 

PRIVATE TOUR OF THE ALAMO – OCTOBER 4TH

 

You’ll have the chance to retrace the footsteps of the past in the solitude of an Alamo after-hours tour. This exclusive visit is an unforgettable experience for out-of-town guests. It will include a personalized tour of the Church and the Long Barrack Museum after normal operating hours.

 

Date: Thursday, October 4th

Time: 6:00 pm  – 7:00 pm

Cost: $30/Person

 

Deadline: Register by September 2nd!

Click here to register and make your payment for the private tour of The Alamo!

ACT NOW!

Photo Scenes from the Conference

(Click here to view photo scenes from the 2018 Annual Conference in San Antonio.)

Registration

REGISTRATION FEES

REGISTRATION TYPE FEES*
(starting September 3, 2018)
First Time Member $645
NAWJ Member $645
Non-Member $745
THURSDAY 10/4 ONLY $250
FRIDAY 10/5 ONLY $250
SATURDAY 10/6 ONLY $250

 

CANCELLATION AND LATE REGISTRATION POLICY
* The registration fee for persons who register on or after September 3, 2018 includesa $50 late charge. Registrants who cancel on or after September 4, 2018 will not receive a refund. All third-party payments aresubject to the same policy.

 

HOW TO REGISTER
Click here to register online. Or download this registration form, complete and email to accounting@nawj.org.

Mail completed form to:
National Association of Women Judges
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1138
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 393-0222

 

$645

Sponsorship Opportunities

Download the NAWJ Annual Conference Sponsor Brochure here.

 

FRIENDS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS:

 

Chief Justice Catherine M. Stone (Ret.)

Fourth Court of Appeals

Shareholder, Langley & Banack, Inc., San Antonio, TX

 

 

Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson (Ret.)

Supreme Court of Texas

Partner, Alexander Dubose Jefferson Townsend LLP, Austin, TX

 

Diamond: $15,000

Speaking role at conference; 15 complimentary conference registrations (includes all CLE programming, Thursday and Friday night receptions and Friday Keynote Luncheon); priority seating; recognition from podium; recognition on tables at luncheon; full page color ad with prominent positioning in program book; recognition on all printed and electronic marketing materials.

 

Platinum: $10,000

10 complimentary conference registrations (includes all CLE programming, Thursday and Friday night receptions and Friday Keynote Luncheon); priority seating; recognition from podium; recognition on tables at luncheon; full page color ad in program book; recognition on all printed and electronic marketing materials.

 

Gold: $7,500

8 complimentary conference registrations (includes all CLE programming, Thursday and Friday night receptions and Friday Keynote Luncheon); priority seating; recognition from podium; recognition on tables at luncheon; full page black and white ad in program book; recognition on all printed and electronic marketing materials.

 

Silver: $5,000

5 complimentary conference registrations (includes all CLE programming, Thursday and Friday night receptions and Friday Keynote Luncheon); priority seating; recognition from podium; recognition on tables at luncheon; full page black and white ad in program book; recognition on all printed and electronic marketing materials.

 

Bronze: $2,500

3 complimentary conference registrations (includes all CLE programming, Thursday and Friday night receptions and Friday Keynote Luncheon); recognition on tables at luncheon; half page black and white ad in program book; recognition on all printed and electronic marketing materials.

 

Friend of NAWJ: $1,000

2 complimentary conference registrations (includes all CLE programming, Thursday and Friday night receptions and Friday Keynote Luncheon); 1/4 page black and white ad in program book.

 

NAWJ Supporter (below $1,000)

$250-$999 -- Recognition in the program.

Written Materials

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2018

1:45 pm - 2:45 pm Session 1: DARK WEB AND VIRTUAL CURRENCIES
Una A. Dean, Esq., Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Dixie L. Johnson, Esq., Partner, King & Spalding
Marjorie J. Peerce, Esq., Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP

 

July 25, 2017 — The DAO Section 21(a) Report
December 11, 2017 — Munchee Cease-and-Desist Order
December 11, 2017 — Clayton Statement
January 19, 2018 — Joint SEC/CFTC Statement
January 26, 2018 — King & Spalding Client Alert
February 6, 2018 — Clayton Testimony
February 7, 2018 — King & Spalding Client Alert
February 21, 2018 — King & Spalding NYLJ Article
March 7, 2018 — King & Spalding Crowdfund Insider Article
May 16, 2018 — Avakian/Peikin Written Testimony
June 14, 2018 — Hinman Speech
July 30, 2018 — Bloomberg Article (Valerie Szczepanick Interview)
August 14, 2018 — King & Spalding Matrix of Crypto Enforcement Actions
January 19, 2018 – Ballard Spahr Alert: SEC and CFTC Issue Joint Statement on Virtual Currency Enforcement Actions
March 1, 2018 – Ballard Spahr Blog Post: Global Regulators to Maintain AML Pressure on the Cryptocurrency Industry
March 8, 2018 – Ballard Spahr Alert: Virtual Currency Is a Commodity Regulated by the CFTC, Eastern District of New York Rules
August 12, 2018 – Ballard Spahr Blog Post: FinCEN Director Addresses Virtual Currency and Touts Regulatory Leadership and Value of SAR Filings

 

Session 2: LUCIA V. SEC: CONSEQUENCES OF EXPANDING JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES
Anton Metlitsky, Esq., O'Melvany & Meyers LLP
Professor of Law Gillian Metzger, Columbia Law School
Chief Administrative Law Judge Brenda Murray, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Professor of Law Richard J. Pierce, Jr., George Washington University

 

Executive Order Excepting Administrative Law Judges from the Competitive Service
Lucia v Securities and Exchange Commission
Procedures for Appointment of Administrative Law Judges for the Department of Labor
Raiding the OPM Den: The New Method of_ ALJ Hiring, by Kent Barnett
Lucia v. SEC, 585 U.S. ___ (2018) (Kagan, J.) Response by Richard J. Pierce, Jr.
Symposium: Minimalism with radical potential by Gillian Metzger
Trump's Order on Administrative Law Judges: Perhaps Insidious, Probably Harmless by Roderick M. Hills
"You're Fired": Executive Order 13839 and Civil Service Protections by Bernard Bell

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018

9:15 am - 10:30 am Session 1: A SYSTEM IN CRISIS; MENTAL HEALTH AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Hon. Milton L. Mack, Jr.,
Michigan State Court Administrator

 

PowerPoint Presentation

 

10:45 am - 12:00 pm Session 1: DEMENTIA IN THE COURTROOM
Robert Abrams, Esq., Co-founder and Executive Partner,
Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP
Ellyn S. Kravitz, Esq., Partner, Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP

 

PowerPoint Presentation

 

Session 2: SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE JUDICIARY
Cynthia Gray Director, Center for Judicial Ethics,
National Center for State Courts
Judge M. Sue Kurita, County Court at Law #6, Texas

 

Part 1 Social Media and Judicial Ethics (NCSC Judicial Conduct Reporter)
Part 2 Social Media and Judicial Ethics (NCSC Judicial Conduct Reporter)
Discussion Summary - Social Media and Judicial Ethics Compiled by Cynthia Gray

 

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Neuroscience of Judicial Decision-Making (Part One)
Speaker: Kimberly Papillon, Esq., Judicial Professor, California Judicial Council
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm Session 2: JUDGES AND JUSTICES UNDER ATTACK:
HOW THE INFORMED VOTERS PROJECT CAN HELP!
Annette Boyd Pitts, Education Chair, Informed Voters- Fair Judges Project (NAWJ); Executive Director, Florida Law Related Education Association
Justice Robin Hudson, Supreme Court of North Carolina, NAWJ Judicial Independence Committee Co-Chair
Justice Barbara J. Pariente, Florida Supreme Court, NAWJ Judicial Independence Committee Co-Chair
Speaker: Kimberly Papillon, Esq., Senior Education Specialist, California Judicial Council

 

Message Board
Informed Voters Program Leadership
A New Era in Judical Retention Election, Florida Law Review
EVALUATION TIPS: How should I judge a judicial candidate? Resources for an informed decision
Evaluating Judicial Candidate
Appellate Judges and the Informed Voter
POLITICS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR COURTROOMS
Defending Justice. Protecting Citizens.  Fair and Impartial Courts play a critical, stabilizing role in our democracy
DEFENDING JUSTICE: What's politics have to do with it? Reinvigorating our defense of state courts, ABA Journal
POWERPOINT:  State Court Judges and Justices Under Attack: How the Informed Voters Project Can Help

 

Session 3: NEUROSCIENCE OF JUDICIAL DECISION-MAKING (Part Two)
Speaker: Kimberly Papillon, Esq., Judicial Professor, California Judicial Council

Twelve Steps and Strategies for Increasing Fairness and Eliminating Unconscious/Implicit Association in Decision-Making

Invited Essay for Georgetown University: Summary of an fMRI Study on How We Judge People Who Are Like Us and Not Like Us

Decision-Making Matrix:  Tools for Increasing Fairness in Decision-Making

Moral Credentialing Checklist (Workplace)