AJCongress Sponsors International Conference
of Women Judges

Women judges from Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cameroon, North Cyprus, India and Sri Lanka will be joining women justices from the United States, Israel,  Europe and South America at an International Conference of Women Judges titled “Gender and Justice: An International Inquiry.”

The Conference is sponsored by the Women’s Division of American Jewish Congress and co-sponsored by the Women and International Law Program of American University, Washington College of Law.  It will be held on June 14-16, 2009, at American University, Washington College of Law in Washington D.C.  The conference will take place though the generosity of Leona Chanin and the Sylvia Chanin Memorial Endowment Fund, and with the cooperation of the International Association of Women Judges.

“The conference will bring together women judges from diverse legal and judicial systems and cultures who are dedicated to gender and justice for all, to examine the challenges they face and the opportunities to use the law to change women’s lives,” said Betsy Plevan, Senior Partner at Proskauer Rose LLP and Conference Chair.  “Many of them are members of, or chief justice of their national Supreme Court.” 

“American University Washington College of Law is one of the first law schools in the world founded by women, more than a century ago, to promote important values of human dignity and nondiscrimination,” said College of Law Dean Claudio Grossman.  “Our institution proudly supports this important conference to strengthen women’s rights and gender equality around the world.”  

Professor Ann Shalleck, Director of the Women and the Law Program added, “Women judges play a critical role in fostering equality and full participation for women in diverse societies.  We are thrilled to host so many respected jurists at the Washington College of Law.”

The audience will consist of United States Federal and State Court Judges, United States Attorneys, law school deans, bar association presidents, practitioners and others interested in women’s rights, law and justice.  Continuing legal education credits will be available.