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International Conference of Women Judges to Explore Gender and Justice As Sotomayor U.S. Supreme Court Nomination Focuses Attention on Female Judges

WASHINGTON, June 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the nomination of a woman to the U.S. Supreme Court focuses new attention on the role and impact of female judges, the American Jewish Congress and the Women and International Law Program at American University Washington College of Law will sponsor an international conference of women judges, June 14-16, 2009 atWashington College of Law inWashington, D.C.

Exploring a range of issues related to gender and justice, the conference, "Gender & Justice: An International Inquiry," will bring together more than 20 esteemed women judges fromAfghanistan,Argentina,Australia,Bahrain,Bhutan,Brazil,Cameroon,Ghana,India,Ireland,Israel,Sri Lanka,The Netherlands, the U.S., and other countries. Many are members of their national Supreme Court. Others, such as the Hon. Mora Jasim Al Kuwari ofBahrain and the Hon. Tashi Chhozom ofBhutan, are the first women appointed to the bench when changes to their constitutions permitted women to serve as judges in those countries.

The conference will examine the challenges female judges face across diverse legal and judicial systems and cultures around the world, and identify opportunities to use the law to change women's lives. For example, there will be a session on the impact of religion on judging featuring Muslim, Jewish, Hindi, and Mormon panelists. Scheduled panel discussions include:

    --  The Impact of Religion and Tradition on Judging
    --  Religious Law and Women's Rights: A New Era?
    --  Status of Women in the Courts: A Report from Around the World
    --  The Role of the Courts in Ending Violence Against Women
    --  Maintaining Judicial Independence in Times of Crisis
    --  Prosecuting Gender-Based and Sexual Crimes Against Women:  The Role of
        International Courts and Criminal Tribunals
    --  Eliminating Gender Bias in the Courts

The audience will consist of U.S. federal and state judges and prosecutors, law school deans, bar association presidents, practitioners, and others interested in women's rights, law and justice. TheWashington College of Law will apply for continuing legal education credits for conference attendees.

"With the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, there is no better time to explore the many issues and challenges facing women judges throughout the world," said American Jewish Congress President Richard Gordon. "The Women's Division of the American Jewish Congress, which supports women's empowerment as a core issue of our advocacy efforts, is proud to bring together such an esteemed and highly accomplished group of justices. We look forward to providing a platform from which an examination of critical issues women judges face everyday will lead to real solutions."

"As one of the first law schools in the world founded, in 1896, by women,Washington College of Law has long supported initiatives to strengthen women's rights and gender equality, as well as the vital institution of a free and independent judiciary, around the world," saidWashington College of Law Dean Claudio Grossman. "The current climate, including the recent nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, reinforces the importance of this conference and the critical issues it will address."

Since 1984, the Women and the Law Program atWashington College of Law has promoted the integration of women's rights and gender studies into legal education, practice, and doctrine. To foster the study and teaching of gender and international or comparative law, the program expanded to include a Women and International Law Program in 1994.

"The conference will bring together women judges from diverse legal and judicial systems and cultures who are dedicated to gender equality and justice for all to examine the challenges they face and the opportunities to use the law to change women's lives," said conference chair Betsy Plevan, a partner and co-head of the International Labor and Employment Practice Group at Proskauer Rose LLP. "Many of them are members of or chief justice of their national Supreme Courts."

Space is still available for the conference. For more information, contact Harriet Kurlander at hkurlander@ajcongress.org or visit the American Jewish Congress at http://www.ajcongress.org.

American Jewish Congress

The American Jewish Congress is an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy -- using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts. Among its most important current projects are: advocacy for the safety and security ofIsrael; leading the fight against terrorists' use of Human Shields; advocacy for religious freedom in the U.S., including the separation of church and state; energy independence from nations whose interests are opposed to those of the AJC; and furthering Women's Empowerment.

History of Washington College of Law

WCL is an institution with a unique heritage. It was founded more than 100 years ago by two pioneering women -- Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett -- at a time when women were generally excluded from the legal profession. The founders created a tradition of providing opportunities for those historically outside the mainstream of the legal profession. More than 100 years later, as a center of educational scholarly excellence, where women and men from all backgrounds continue to pursue the founders' mission, WCL is a testament to these women's ideals and tenacity.

SOURCE American Jewish Congress