WASHINGTON PRESENTS IMPRESSIVE 'FACES OF JUSTICE' JUDICIAL CONFERENCE FOR NAWJ'S 2016 ANNUAL MEETING IN SEATTLE

From October 5-9, 2016 over 300 judges, attorneys, government officials, academic and legal experts convened for NAWJ’s 38^th Annual Conference, Faces of Justice, in Seattle, Washington. Instrumental to bringing the conference to life is the Conference Planning Committee led by Conference Chair Hon. Susan Owens, Washington State Supreme Court and Co-Chairs Hon. Mary E. Fairhurst, Hon. Barbara Madsen, Hon. Sheryl Gordon McCloud and Hon. Debra L. Stephens, her colleagues on the Washington State Supreme Court. All supported by NAWJ 2015-16 President Lisa Walsh (11^th Circuit Court of Florida).

Education Committee Chairs Hon. Karen Donohue (Seattle Municipal Court), Hon. Margaret Vail Ross (Pierce County District Court), and committee member Judith M. Anderson (Judicial Services Division, Administrative Office of the Courts) programed a concert of sessions that spoke to our members’ issues of today. The Washington State Courts has made an excellent, representative photo timeline presentation of each activity, program and session for your view. Click here and take a look and see everyone – speakers, planners, members - who participated.

Event Chair Hon. Marilyn Paja, Kitsap County District Court, coordinated a memorable, misty ferry excursion to the Suquamish Tribal Museum and Tribal Court, a tour of the modern Seattle Municipal Court led by its Presiding Judge Karen Donohue; and the world class attractions at Seattle Center – Chihuly Garden and Glass and The Experience Museum Project.

Volunteer Chair, Hon. Marcine S. Anderson (King County District Court, West Division), assembled an amiable team of volunteers to assist conference attendees in registration, signing-up for excursions, and directing speakers throughout NAWJ five-day conference. And, thank you to conference budget chair Hon. Laurel H. Siddoway, Court of Appeals, Division II.

This wonderful conference could not have taken place without the leadership of the Friends Chairs Ellen Conedera Dial, Esq. and Nancy Dykes Isserlis, Esq. and the long list of sponsors they were able to gather in support of the conference’s programs and activities: Premier Sponsor: Perkins Coie Foundation; Gold Sponsors: Lane Powell PC, LexisNexis, Microsoft, Starbucks, Washington State Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission; Silver Sponsors: Alaska Airlines, Regina and Charlie Cheever, CourtCall LLC, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, GEICO, JAMS, Nintendo, Inc; Pacifica Law Group Seattle, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt; Thomson Reuters, Williams Kastner;  Bronze Sponsors: Bullivant Houser Bailey PC;  Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell LLP, Keller Rohrback L.L.P, Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton; Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch, Inc. P.S.; Stokes Lawrence, Summit Law Group, Washington State Association for Justice; Supporters: Aoki Law, Calibre CPA Group
Jameson, Babbit, Stites & Lombard PLLC; King County Bar Association, Lisa Kinoshita, Jewelry Designer; Mills Meyers Swartling P.S., Talmadge/Fitzpatrick/Tribe, Washington State Bar Foundation.

Education programs and beautiful excursions are not the only highlights of NAWJ’s Conferences, each conference also swears in a new President - Hon. Diana Becton, California Superior Court, Contra Costa County - of the Association and a slate of officers. (For more photos of officer induction click here.)  You can find a full list of officer and district directors here.

Saturday night’s Gala Banquet gave chance to members to hear from their new President, Hon. Diana Becton, laugh at the Improv of Unexpected Productions, and for outgoing President Lisa Walsh to recognize the achievement of select members. The Hon. Judith S. Chirlin - Justice Joan Dempsey Klein Honoree of the Year; Elizabeth M. Hernandez, Esq. and Akerman LLC  - Florence K. Murray Award;  Hon. Cheryl J. Gonzales, Hon. Brenda Murray and Hon. Betty J. Williams - Mattie Belle Davis Award; Hon. Karen Matson Donohue - Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award.