NAWJ Midyear Meeting and Leadership Conference

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.

For Early Arrivals, Mission San Juan Capistrano, whales, and dolphins

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.

Conference Opens to a Full House and a Tsunami Warning

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

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.

Actress, Activist and Documentary Filmmaker Darryl Hannah makes a Serious Splash on the Subject of Sex Trafficking

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. Afterward, she generously spoke individually with many of our members on the serious subject of trafficking.

Justice and award-winning author, Eileen Moore on 'Race Results: Hollywood vs. the Supreme Court – Ten Decades of Racial Decisions and Film'

Justice Eileen Moore of the California Court of Appeal, sitting in Santa Ana, capped off the day with an afternoon at the movies in a way you have never experienced before. Justice Moore, a member of NAWJ, past recipient of the California Women Lawyers Joan Dempsey Klein Award and combat nurse in Vietnam, presented two hours of film clips beginning with the 1915 film Birth of a Nation illustrating the progression and contrast between the racial decisions of the United States Supreme Court and the portrayal of African Americans over the same ten decades. Her presentation is derived from her nationally award winning book which grew out of her thesis for her Masters degree awarded in 2004 from the University of Virginia-Charlottesville. Her initial premise had been that the often perceived conservative Court would be outpaced by liberal Hollywood, but, as shown by her contrast between the popular films of each decade with the Court’s decisions, that was often the reverse. The Court for most decades has been more advanced in recognizing the advancements and achievements of African Americans. We certainly will never watch movies the same way!

District Directors Meeting and Board Meetings

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!

Trolleys and a Sunset Jazz Reception on the Beach Cliff Grounds of the Montage

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.

See you all in Newark!

Jamoa Moberly

HOST HOTEL

Reservations are now being accepted at the Surf and Sand Resort, 1555 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, California 92651, for this year's Midyear Leadership Conference. Room rates are $199.00 per night plus tax, for single or double occupancy. This rate is available from March 7th through March 16th. You may reserve accommodations by calling 1-888-869-7569 and identifying our group name, "NAWJ". The NAWJ room block and rate is subject to availability, and the cut-off date for the discount rate is February 18th, 2011.

REGISTRATION

Conference registration fees are $150 for NAWJ members, $195 for non-members. NAWJ Member registration fee includes all events and receptions from Friday March 11, 2011 until Sunday morning, March 13, 2011. Registrations obtained after the registration deadline of February 28, 2011 must include a $25 late registration fee. If notice of cancelation is received after February 28th, 2010, the registration fee, less a $25 processing fee, is refundable. Cancelations received within 3 days of the conference are refundable less a $50 processing fee. Fax or mail to: Jeffrey Groton, National Association of Women Judges, 1341 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 4.2, Washington, DC 20036, Fax: (202) 393-0125.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Please click here to download the tentative conference schedule (subject to change).

SPONSORS

SPONSOR THE MIDYEAR CONFERENCE

Friends Committee Chairs:

Friends Committee:
Joe Chairez, Esq., Baker Hostetler
Alan Crivaro, Esq.
Norma Garcia Cullen, Esq., Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Laura Dahl, Esq. Best, Best & Kreiger LLP
Lei Lei Wang Eckvall, Esq., Weiland, Golden, Smiley, Wang Ekvall & Strok, LLP
Holly Fujie, Esq., Buchalter Nemer
Hon. Andrew Guilford, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Julie McCoy, Esq.
Kathleen Peterson, Esq., Minyard and Morris
Hon. Shiella Prell Sonenshine (Retired)
Hon. Nancy Weiben Stock, Superior Court of California, Orange County
Hon. Alice Marie Stotler, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Kenneth Wang, Deputy Attorney General, Office of California Attorney General
Dean Zipser, Esq., Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

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:

• Ten Tickets to the March 11th Keynote Luncheon;
• Ten Tickets to the March 11th Education Sessions;
• Ten tickets for the March 11th Judicial Reception;
• Ten tickets for the March 12th Judicial Reception;
• The opportunity to appoint one representative to serve on NAWJ’s Resource Board (Resource Board information is included in this package)
• Acknowledgment of your firm/company’s sponsorship at the sponsor appreciation keynote luncheon;
• Prominent placement of your firm/company’s name or logo on conference promotional material, including press releases, media kits and luncheon/reception invitations;
• Full page ad in the conference program;
• Acknowledgment of the sponsorship by your firm/company in NAWJ’s semi-annual newsletter; and on the NAWJ website. These materials are seen by NAWJ’s 1,280 members, as well as numerous corporate General Counsel, bar leaders and law school deans.

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:

• Five Tickets to the March 11th Keynote Luncheon;
• Five Tickets to the March 11th Education Sessions;
• Five tickets for the March 11th Judicial Reception;
• Acknowledgment of your firm/company’s sponsorship at the sponsor appreciation keynote luncheon;
• Prominent placement of your firm/company’s name or logo on conference promotional material, including press releases, media kits and luncheon/reception invitations;
• Half page ad in the conference program;
• Acknowledgment of the sponsorship by your firm/company in NAWJ’s semi-annual newsletter; and on the NAWJ website. These materials are seen by NAWJ’s 1,280 members, as well as numerous corporate General Counsel, bar leaders and law school deans.

As a $2,500 Silver Sponsor, your firm/company will receive:

• Two Tickets to the March 11th Keynote Luncheon;
• Two Tickets to the March 11th Education Sessions;
• Two tickets for the March 11th Judicial Reception;
• Acknowledgment of your firm/company’s sponsorship at the sponsor appreciation keynote luncheon;
• Prominent placement of your firm/company’s name or logo on conference promotional material, including press releases, media kits and luncheon/reception invitations;
• Quarter page ad in the conference program;
• Acknowledgment of the sponsorship by your firm/company in NAWJ’s semi-annual newsletter; and on the NAWJ website. These materials are seen by NAWJ’s 1,280 members, as well as numerous corporate General Counsel, bar leaders and law school deans.

As a $1,000 Bronze Sponsor, your firm/company will receive:

• Two tickets for the sponsor appreciation keynote luncheon program;
• Acknowledgment of your firm/company’s sponsorship at the keynote Luncheon;
• Acknowledgment of the sponsorship by your firm/company in NAWJ’s Annual Report; semi-annual newsletter; and on the NAWJ website. These materials are seen by NAWJ’s 1,280 members, as well as numerous corporate General Counsel, bar leaders and law school deans.

As a $500 Individual Sponsor, you will receive:

• One ticket for the sponsor appreciation keynote luncheon program;
• Acknowledgment of your sponsorship at the keynote Luncheon;
• Acknowledgment of the sponsorship in NAWJ’s Annual Report; semi-annual newsletter; and on the NAWJ website. These materials are seen by NAWJ’s 1,280 members, as well as numerous corporate General Counsel, bar leaders and law school deans.