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SUMMARY:Webinar: Employee Handbooks - Best Practices and Potential Pitfalls
DESCRIPTION:**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone** \nPlease join the Labor & Employment section to discuss best practices for reviewing\, drafting\, and revising employee handbooks.  This session will start with initial considerations and the importance of understanding the client’s business (what they do\, what are their priorities\, where are their employees\, and any industry/business specific requirements/concerns that should be included or addressed)\, the importance of “doing no harm” and avoiding creating contractual obligations\, things to consider when reviewing and updating existing handbooks\, tips for drafting handbooks for multi-state/cross-jurisdictional employers\, and common traps/pitfalls to avoid\, yet are often included and/or requested by employers (such as introductory periods\, formal review processes\, open-door/grievance policies\, graduated/incremental disciplinary policies\, and policies that are unrealistic or frequently ignored/disregarded to an employer’s detriment). \nRegister Today!\n  \nPresented by the Labor & Employment Section \n  \n\nAbout the Presenters\nDavid A. Michel – Partner\, Sherin and Lodgen LLP\, Boston\, MA \nDavid A. Michel assists clients in resolving complex employment\, business\, and real estate disputes. \nA partner in Sherin and Lodgen LLP’s Litigation Department\, his experience includes representing companies and individuals in a variety of complex civil and commercial disputes in federal and state court and through alternative dispute resolution. In particular\, David represents clients and organizations in employment matters involving restrictive covenants\, discrimination\, wrongful termination\, and wage and hour litigation. He also represents companies\, developers\, property owners\, and landlords involved in commercial and real estate disputes\, including adverse possession\, breach of contract\, brokerage\, and zoning matters. \nPrior to joining Sherin and Lodgen\, David was a Staff Attorney for the Committee for Public Counsel Services’ Public Defender Division. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from The George Washington University in 2006\, David returned to his native Massachusetts to pursue a career in law.  David received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 2011\, where he served as submissions editor for the Boston University Public Interest Law Journal and achieved honors in the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Concentration. \n  \nJack Blum – Shareholder\, Polsinelli\, Washington\, DC \nJack Blum is an experienced employment law advisor and litigator. Jack has extensive experience defending employers against all manner of claims by their employees in federal and state courts\, as well as before government agencies like the OFCCP\, EEOC\, and state human rights commissions. \n\n\nJack particularly focuses on representing government contractor employers. Jack guides clients through OFCCP audits\, framing the client’s hiring\, compensation\, and other personnel practices and data to preemptively address potential OFCCP concerns to avoid extensive agency inquiries. When OFCCP does challenge a client’s practices\, Jack has successfully defended against OFCCP’s claims of discrimination. Jack also advises contractors on compliance with their obligations under the Davis-Bacon Act\, Service Contract Act\, and a wide range of FAR and DFAR clauses. \nJack also frequently represents parties in employee mobility litigation\, including claims involving non-competition\, non-solicitation\, and confidentiality agreements\, trade secret misappropriation\, and business torts asserted against former employees and competitors that hire them. As employers face significant competitive harm from an employee’s theft of customer or technical information\, Jack is prepared to take immediate decisive action to obtain a temporary restraining order preventing improper competition. Significantly\, Jack has experience in both prosecuting and defending employee mobility claims and is able to offer clients a well-rounded assessment of their options and courses of action. \nJack also works closely with in-house counsel\, human resources personnel\, and business executives to craft compliant personnel policies that meet the client’s business requirements. Jack advises clients regarding employee/independent contractor classifications\, onboarding employees subject to restrictive covenants\, reductions in force\, and internal investigations of sensitive harassment and potential whistleblower allegations. Jack also walks clients through sensitive terminations to reduce the potential for litigation or at least best position the client in the event that litigation is inevitable. Jack draws heavily upon this counseling experience in representing clients in litigation. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nJames Noël – Counsel – McConnell Valdés LLC\, Puerto Rico\n\nJames Noel is Counsel\, Labor & Employment Law Practice Group for McConnell Valdés LLC. Mr. Noel has provided advice and has represented employers in all areas of federal and Puerto Rico employment law. \nMr. Noël has vast litigation experience in both state and federal courts. His initial assessment to clients is based on years of experience and takes into consideration the nature of the claims\, the opposing counsel\, the state-court judge\, and the potential exposure of a jury trial\, among other criteria. \nMr. Noël has handled matters involving more specialized knowledge than the usual employment case\, such as the Railway Labor Act\, the National Labor Relations Act\, the Federal Arbitration Act\, ERISA\, and COBRA.  He has also served as counsel in cases before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. \nIn addition to litigation\, Mr. Noël has handled numerous due diligence matters\, including the purchase or sale of businesses in Puerto Rico\, as well as labor and employment audits. \nHe is the Past-President of the FBA\, Puerto Rico Chapter; former Treasurer of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the FBA national; Vice-Chairman of the Counsel of Past Presidents of the FBA Puerto Rico Chapter; a Fellow of the Foundation of the FBA; and a member of the Board of the Labor and Employment Section of the FBA. \nMr. Noël provides advice to Corporación La Fondita de Jesús\, a non-profit organization which helps people who have problems with controlled substances kick the habit.  He has also provided pro bono services in Federal and State Courts. \n  \nBrian J. MacDonough\, Partner\, Sherin and Lodgen LLP\, Boston\, MA\n \nBrian J. MacDonough chairs the Sherin and Lodgen LLP Employment Department\, and co counsels and represents executives and professionals in sophisticated employment and compensation matters and employment litigation. \nHe handles a wide range of matters\, including contract negotiation and enforcement\, discrimination\, whistleblowing\, wage and hour issues\, and wrongful termination. In particular\, Brian advises executives and professionals regarding employment agreements\, change of control agreements\, equity and deferred compensation vehicles\, non-competition and other restrictive covenants\, severance/separation terms\, and transition agreements. \nA trusted advisor to his clients\, Brian often works with them throughout their careers as they transition to new opportunities. As noted by Chambers USA\, he “brings a calm demeanor to the table and focuses on the best outcome for his client\,” says one interviewee. A client adds: “He is empathetic and very strategic in negotiations.” \nIn addition to his executive advocacy practice\, Brian also litigates cases in both federal and state courts and appears regularly before state and federal agencies\, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. \nHighly respected by his colleagues\, Brian is a former co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Section. He also served on the committee that prepared draft sexual harassment regulations on behalf of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and he assisted in the drafting of proposed revisions of the Commission’s procedural regulations. \nBrian is a frequent author and speaker on matters of employment law. He is an editor and co-author of the Massachusetts Employment Law Manual\, published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education\, Inc.  He has also co-authored employment law chapters for the MCLE’s Massachusetts Basic Practice Manual\, and sections of the quarterly Commentary for the Massachusetts Discrimination Law Reporter.  Brian has chaired several programs sponsored by MCLE\, including “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Employment Law” and “Preventing and Litigating Wage & Hours Cases.” \n  \n\nRegistration\nRegister Today!  \n\nLive Broadcast | FBA Member: $0\nLive Broadcast | Nonmember: $95\nOn-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50\nOn-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95\n\n\n\nCLE\nPlease note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.\nMyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states\, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states. \nPosted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction. \nFor questions regarding this program\, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.
URL:https://www.fedbar.org/event/webinar-employee-handbooks-best-practices-and-potential-pitfalls/
LOCATION:OH
CATEGORIES:Labor Employment Law Section
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250311T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250311T193000
DTSTAMP:20260410T181630
CREATED:20250227T171542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250227T171542Z
UID:672775-1741714200-1741721400@www.fedbar.org
SUMMARY:Oklahoma City Chapter: Judicial Reception and Fireside Chat
DESCRIPTION:The Oklahoma City Chapter of the Federal Bar Association cordially invites you to our annual Judicial Reception and Fireside Chat at Oklahoma Contemporary on Tuesday\, March 11\, as we celebrate the career of United States District Judge Stephen P. Friot. This event also offers the opportunity to connect with fellow legal professionals\, engage in lively conversation with some of the legal community’s most respected figures\, and deepen your understanding of the law. \nA reception begins at 5:30\, where guests can mingle with colleagues and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. The program will begin at 6:30\, featuring Judge Stephen P. Friot\, as he reflects on his experience and insight gained over the course of his distinguished career. \nRegister to attend using the link provided.
URL:https://www.fedbar.org/event/oklahoma-city-chapter-judicial-reception-and-fireside-chat-2/
LOCATION:Oklahoma Contemporary\, 11 NW 11th St.\, Oklahoma City\, O\, 73103\, United States
CATEGORIES:Oklahoma City Chapter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Judicial-Reception-Invitation-2025.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Devin Frost":MAILTO:oklahomacityfba@okcfedbar.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250312T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250312T133000
DTSTAMP:20260410T181630
CREATED:20250116T162850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250116T162946Z
UID:653526-1741780800-1741786200@www.fedbar.org
SUMMARY:Qui Tam Section: [VIRTUAL] FCA Trial Practice
DESCRIPTION:**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone** \nThis panel will revisit recent FCA trial experiences\, addressing the unique issues that arise from FCA practice. It will also examine what aspects of discovery and motion practice really influence trial preparation and practice. \n  \nRegister Today!\n  \nPresented by the FBA Qui Tam Section \n  \n\nPresenters\nSara Vann\, Georgia Office of the Attorney General (Moderator)\n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nAnthony DeCinque\, Assistant U.S. Attorney\, N.D. Ga. \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nDaniel Miller\, Walden Macht & Haran LLP \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nTom Clarkson\, Griffin Durham Tanner Clarkson LLC \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\nRegistration\nRegister here! \n\nFBA Members: $0\nNon-Members: $0\n\n\nCLE\nPlease note that CLE credit is not offered for this webinar. \n  \n\nEmail Communication Policy \nBy registering for this event\, you agree to receive email communications from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details\, Continuing Legal Education certification\, programming changes\, upcoming events\, surveys\, and post-event communications. \nRecording Disclaimer \nBy registering for an FBA webinar\, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same\, do not register for the event. \nIf you have any questions regarding this program\, please contact sections@fedbar.org.
URL:https://www.fedbar.org/event/fca-trial/
LOCATION:OH
CATEGORIES:Qui Tam Section
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250312T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250312T190000
DTSTAMP:20260410T181630
CREATED:20250305T163743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250305T163743Z
UID:675614-1741800600-1741806000@www.fedbar.org
SUMMARY:Los Angeles Chapter: Best Practices for SEC White-Collar Attorneys
DESCRIPTION:Event Description:\nThis panel of experienced SEC practitioners will discuss the strategy and knowledge essential to a successful white-collar practice in the SEC arena. The speakers will address the nuances of SEC litigation as it compares to conventional civil litigation and white-collar criminal proceedings\, including the SEC process and available remedies. The speakers will also address the strategies inherent in navigating parallel SEC and criminal proceedings\, including dealing with potential Fifth Amendment and joint representation issues. Finally\, the speakers will share lessons learned from recent high profile trials and their thoughts on how to prepare yourself as an SEC practitioner for the next four years. \nPanelists:  Jorge Deneve\, Partner\, O’Melveny & Myers; Amy Longo\, Partner\, Ropes & Gray; James Spertus\, Partner\, Spertus\, Landes & Josephs. \nModerator: Christine Adams\, Partner\, Adams\, Duerk & Kamenstein. \nTime: Wednesday\, March 12\, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm\nRegistration opens: 5:30 pm \nThe event will be hosted by O’Melveny at its offices in downtown Los Angeles.\n400 South Hope St.\, Suite 1900\nLos Angeles\, CA 90071 \nReception with drinks and appetizers will be provided starting at 5:30 p.m.\, prior to the discussion at 6:00 p.m. Parking will be validated. \nMCLE: 1.00 Hr. General MCLE; This activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education Credit by the State Bar of California. The FBA certifies that this activity conforms to the standards of approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education. \nRegistration Link: https://fbala.org/EventInfo.php?eID=184
URL:https://www.fedbar.org/event/los-angeles-chapter-best-practices-for-sec-white-collar-attorneys/
LOCATION:O’Melveny & Myers\, 400 South Hope St.\, Suite 1900\, Los Angeles\, CA\, 90071\, United States
CATEGORIES:Los Angeles Chapter,Securities Law Section,Virtual Chapter CLE
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FBA-LA-SEC-White-Collar-Virtual-Program-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="FBA-Los Angeles Chapter":MAILTO:fbala@emaoffice.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250314T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250314T120000
DTSTAMP:20260410T181630
CREATED:20250124T191953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250314T135935Z
UID:655888-1741948200-1741953600@www.fedbar.org
SUMMARY:Hybrid Event: Women in the Judiciary
DESCRIPTION:**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone** \nPlease join us for the FBA’s Award-Winning Official Parallel Program at the 69th Annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Entitled Women in the Judiciary\, this event explores the role that women play in the judiciary and how equality strengthens accountability across and within governmental bodies. We’ll enjoy opening remarks by FBA President-Elect Hon. Karoline Mehalchick\, and presentations by federal and state judges in the U.S.\, and around the world\, including FBA Judiciary Division Immediate Past Chair\, Hon. Beth Bloom. \nAttendance is free for anyone interested\, and we encourage you to invite your networks to participate. The program is in-person for those local to New York City\, and virtual for those unable to join in-person on March 14\, 2025\, from 10:30 – 12:00 ET. \nTo participate in-person: This event is an official Parallel Event being held at the NGO CSW Site across the street from the United Nations. In-person attendees must register directly with the NGO CSW Forum here on their website. Note: Participation in this event will not enable you to attend events within the United Nations Building itself. Here is the address for this event: \nChurch Center for the United Nations (CCUN)\n777 United Nations Plaza\nNew York\, NY 10017\n11th Floor – Assigned room is TBD \n  \nVirtual registration is closed. \nSponsored by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division. \nCo-sponsors: \n\nFBA International Law Section\nFBA Diversity and Inclusion Committee\nFordham Law School’s International Law and Justice LLM Program\nAmerican Bar Association\, National Conference of Administrative Law Judges\nAssociation of European Administrative Judges\nAssociation of Administrative Law Judges\nNational Association of Women Judges\nInternational Association of Women Judges\nInternational Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers\n\n  \nOPENING REMARKS\nHon. Karoline Mehalchick\, FBA President-Elect \nMagistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick\, United States District Court\, Middle District of Pennsylvania\nHon. Karoline Mehalchick is a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She was appointed to the bench on July 15\, 2013. She is a graduate of the Schreyer Honors College of the Pennsylvania State University and Tulane University School of Law. Prior to joining the court\, Judge Mehalchick clerked for the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County\, Pennsylvania and was a partner with a small law firm in Northeast Pennsylvania\, where she represented a broad range of clients in both state and federal trial and appellate courts\, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Mehalchick has been active in the FBA for over 10 years\, and is a past president of the Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter\, previously serving as its secretary\, vice president\, and president-elect\, and a former Third Circuit Vice President. She currently serves as a Director on the Board of the FBA\, is a judicial profiles editor for The Federal Lawyer\, and serves as Secretary to the Judiciary Division. She also serves as her local chapter’s ECF coordinator and civics liaison\, and works closely with the chapter’s community outreach chair to implement programs with local schools and the court. \nSPEAKERS\nHon. Bernadette D’Souza\nOrleans Parish Civil District Court\nParticipation Capacity – International Association of Women Judges\, North America Regional Directors \nBernadette D’Souza is a judge on the Orleans Parish Civil District Court in Louisana. She took office in 2012\, with her current term expiring in 2026. After graduation\, she pursued a legal career dedicated to public interest law\, taking on cases regarding family law\, housing and domestic violence. D’Souza has served over 18 years as a practicing attorney\, many of which were spent as managing attorney for the family law unit at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Tulane Law School\, teaching courses on domestic violence laws. D’Souza received her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 1992. \n  \n  \nCamille Vinet\nSecretary General\, Association of European Administrative Judges\nParticipation Capacity – Association of European Administrative Judges \nCamille Vinet is a French administrative judge who graduated from the universities Paris Nanterre (2000) and Sciences Po Paris (2002). After working as a judicial assistant at the Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris\, she became an administrative judge in 2004. She seconded three years as a judge at the Regional Audit Court of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in 2014. She currently works at the Administrative Court of Appeals of Lyon\, where she started her career. She became presiding judge in 2022. \nCamille Vinet was appointed AEAJ representative for equity\, diversity and inclusion in 2021\, and is AEAJ secretary general since 2023. She is also a member of the board of directors of the “Justice Administrative Alter Egale” (JAAE) association\, which promotes gender equality within French administrative jurisdictions. \n  \nHon. Beth Bloom\nU.S. District Court\, Southern District of Florida\nParticipation Capacity – Immediate Past Chair\, Federal Bar Association\, Judiciary Division \nJudge Beth Bloom has served as a United States District Judge in the Southern District of Florida since 2014. She was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate (95-0) on June 24\, 2014 (her birthday). Before her appointment to the federal bench\, she served on the Florida state court bench in Miami-Dade County for nearly 20 years. She was appointed by former Governor Charlie Crist to the Circuit Court in 2010 after serving 15 years as a County Court Judge. She has served in the Circuit Court’s criminal and civil divisions and all divisions of the County Court\, serving as the Associate Administrative Judge.\nJudge Bloom received her Bachelor of Science degree in public relations from the University of Florida in 1984 and her Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from the University of Miami School of Law. She practiced commercial litigation with the law firm of Floyd Pearson Richman Greer Weil Zack & Brumbaugh from 1988-1994 and served as a Traffic Court Magistrate from 1993-1994 before her election to the state court bench. \nJudge Bloom currently serves as a member of the Judiciary Division Board of the Federal Bar Association and is a Board Member of the South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. In 2015\, she established and coordinates the Southern District of Florida’s annual Summer Intern Ethics and Orientation Program and oversees its annual Law Day and Constitution Day Programs. She is the co-creator of the Civil Discourse & Difficult Decisions Program\, now a national initiative\, presented to high school students in the federal court.\nJudge Bloom is a frequent lecturer for the Florida Bar\, other bar associations and FBA chapters. She has presented at the 2018 New Judges College and the 2017 District Judges Conference. She served on the faculty of the Florida Judicial College for 19 years\, teaching newly elected and appointed judges. She has served on the faculty of the National Judicial College\, the College of Advanced Judicial Studies\, the Florida Conference of County Court Judges and an adjunct faculty member of the Litigation Skills Program at the University of Miami School of Law. She is a frequent lecturer with the Florida Bar and several local bar associations. \nWhile serving as a state court judge\, Judge Bloom was elected as the first woman president of the Florida Conference of County Court Judges\, a member of the Executive Committee of the Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges and was a founding member of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Historical Society. She coordinated the University of Miami School of Law’s Judicial Internship Program for 17 years. In Miami- Dade County\, she created the “Lawyers Join Hands for Students” Program\, the DUI In-Jail Treatment Program\, the Smoking Tobacco Offender Program (S.T.O.P.)\, the “It’s Your Life” Skills Program for foster youth aging out of the foster care system\, and the “I’m Ready” Program for youthful offenders sentenced in adult criminal court. She coordinated the Artist in Residence Program with artist Romero Britto and students from Miami-Dade’s Visual and Performing Arts Academies and implemented the Eleventh Circuit’s Centennial Celebration’s county-wide poster\, essay and speech contests with the Miami-Dade County schools. She led the effort to establish “Friends of Caleb\,” and spearheaded the creation and construction of a now-permanent mural commemorating Joseph Caleb. She is the co-founder of the Children’s Craniofacial Association at Miami Children’s Hospital and Oliver’s Fund at the University of Miami’s Debbie School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. \nJudge Bloom has received numerous honors and awards that include the ABA Presidential Recognition Award\, the Florida Bar President’s Award of Merit\, the Florida Conference of County Court Judges’ Trailblazer Award and Harvey Ford Leadership Award\, the Fraternal Order of Police Citizen of the Year Award\, the Dade County Bar Association’s Johnnie M. Ridgely President’s Award\, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Historical Society’s “Silverman Award”\, the University of Miami School of Law Alumni Association’s Thomas Davison III Service Award\, the Miami-Dade Justice Association’s “Judge Steve Levine Award”\, MADD’s Judicial Distinction Award\, the Legal Services of Greater Miami’s 2015 Equal Justice Judicial Leadership Award\, the Juvenile Judges’ Child’s Heart Award\, the Miami Bridge Youth & Family Service’s Champion for Children Award\, Our Kids’ Leadership Award\, Mellon Bank’s Community Service Award\, the Jewish Legal Society’s Rodef Shalom Pursuer of Peace Award\, Judge of the Year from the Minority Chamber of Commerce\, Miami Todays’ 2019 Stars in Government Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Miami Women Who Rock. \n  \nHon. Florence Hermite-Fageur\nParis Court of Appeal\nFormer Justice Liaison for the French Embassy in Washington\, DC\nParticipation Capacity – Femmes de Justice (France) & International Association of Women Judges \nFlorence Hermite\, 45\, was appointed as a member of the French Judiciary in 2003. She is currently a Judge at the Court of Appeal in Paris. Between 2020 and 2024\, she served as Justice Attaché for North American (USA and Canada) at the French Embassy in the United States. Between 2014 and 2019\, she held different positions at the Ministry of Justice and Office of the Prime Minister. Before that\, she had practiced during 10 years as a civil and criminal judge in first instance courts located in the Paris area and in in the West of France (Nantes). \nSince 2020\, Florence Hermite has been a member of Femmes de Justice\, the French association of women working in the justice system. She joined the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) in 2024. \n  \n \nHon. Michelle Rick\nMichigan Court of Appeals\nParticipation Capacity – President\, National Association of Women Judges \nThe Honorable Michelle Rick was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals in November 2020 and began her term of service representing the 4th Judicial District in January 2021.  Judge Rick served as a trial judge on the 29th Circuit Court from 2007–2020.  Before that\, Judge Rick worked primarily in public service as a prosecutor\, a senior assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan\, and as deputy legal counsel to Michigan’s Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. \nJudge Rick is a graduate of Michigan State University and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.  She is currently serving as President of the National Association of Women Judges.  She is a former president of the Michigan Judges Association.  Judge Rick serves as an advisor to the Rural Justice Collaborative Advisory Council.  She has served as a member of numerous state committees\, including the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Council\, the Human Trafficking Commission\, the Limited-Scope Representation Workgroup\, the State Planning Commission\, the Limited English Proficiency Steering Committee\, the Affordable Legal Services Committee\, and the State Bar of Michigan Corrections and Prisons Section. \nIn 2015\, the Women Lawyers Association of Mid-Michigan awarded Judge Rick the Carolyn A. Stell Award.  In January 2019\, the Michigan Supreme Court recognized Judge Rick as a judge who gives back and makes a difference.  In 2020\, the State Bar of Michigan awarded Judge Rick and select University of Detroit Mercy School of Law faculty and students the Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award.  The award was given for creating and executing “Project Access\,” a traveling expungement clinic that brought expungement relief to six rural communities in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula.  In 2022\, the National Association of Women Judges awarded Judge Rick the Vaino Spencer Award for outstanding leadership in promoting the vision\, core values and mission of NAWJ. \nJudge Rick teaches Access to Justice at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law\, and she is a Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellow and an American Bar Foundation Fellow.  Judge Rick is a frequent guest speaker and lecturer at various statewide and local law-related events. \n  \nHon. Delissa Ridgway \nU.S. Court of International Trade \nThe Hon. Delissa A. Ridgway was sworn in as a Judge of the U.S. Court of International Trade in May 1998. The Court of International Trade – based in New York – is a nine-member Article III federal trial court with exclusive nationwide jurisdiction over disputes involving the interpretation and application of U.S. customs and international trade laws. \nPrior to her appointment to the Court\, Judge Ridgway served as Chair of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the U.S.\, a three-member international tribunal charged with adjudicating claims by U.S. nationals against foreign sovereigns\, including\, e.g.\, claims against Germany brought by U.S. survivors of Nazi concentration camps. Before her 1994 appointment to the FCSC by President Clinton\, Judge Ridgway was a member of the International Practice Group at Shaw Pittman (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) in Washington\, D.C.\, where she specialized in international arbitration. She has been an Adjunct Professor of Law on the international law faculty of Cornell Law School and has served as a rule of law/“capacity-building” consultant to numerous U.S. government agencies\, foreign governments\, international organizations\, and NGOs\, advising/teaching judges and lawyers around the world on the rule of law and legal/judicial reform\, as well as a wide range of topics in international law. \nA longtime member of the American Law Institute\, Judge Ridgway is a past Chair (2009-2010) of the National Conference of Federal Trial Judges (representing the interests of all federal trial judges in the U.S.) and has a long history of leadership in the U.S. judiciary and in bar and community activities. She is a Charter Fellow of the Federal Bar Foundation and served for two decades on the National Council of the Federal Bar Association (“FBA”)\, in addition to service as Chair of the FBA’s Government Relations Committee and service on the Editorial Board of The Federal Lawyer and in the leadership of several FBA Sections. The Judge also served several terms on the Board of the Federal Bar Building Corporation (“FBBC”). \nJudge Ridgway is also very active in the American Bar Association\, where she is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and has served on\, inter alia\, the Council of the ABA’s Judicial Division\, the ABA Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements\, the ABA Commission on Women\, and the Asia/Pacific Council and the Middle East/North Africa Council of the ABA’s Rule of Law Initiative (“ROLI”). In addition\, she has served for nearly a decade on the Council of the ABA International Law Section and previously served as a member of the ABA’s delegation to the United Nations. She also serves on the New York City Bar Association’s Council on International Affairs and is a founding member of the City Bar’s Task Force on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges. Earlier in her career\, Judge Ridgway served for seven years on the Board of Governors of the 100\,000-member D.C. Bar and as President (1992-1993) of the Women’s Bar Association of D.C. \nJudge Ridgway was the 2000 recipient of the Earl W. Kintner Award\, the national FBA’s highest honor; and\, in 1997\, the FBA recognized her as one of four “Distinguished Women in International Law” (an honor that she shared with\, inter alia\, then-First Lady Hillary Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright). She was also recognized as Washington\, D.C.’s “Woman Lawyer of the Year” (2001) and as the University of Missouri’s “Distinguished Scholar in Residence” (2003). The Judge’s many other honors include the ABA International Law Section’s World Order Under Law Award (2019) and its Mayre Rasmussen Award for the Advancement of Women in International Law (2020)\, as well as the D.C. Bar’s Frederick B. Abramson Award (1996). She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York City Bar’s Third Annual International Law Conference on the Status of Women in 2022. \nJudge Ridgway is a 1975 honors graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia\, where she completed coursework for an M.S. in Community/International Development. She received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 1979 and was a member of the inaugural (2014) class of the LL.M. in Judicial Studies program at Duke University School of Law. \n  \nHon. Col. Linda Strite Murnane\nAssociate Justice on the High Court\, Republic of the Marshall Islands\nParticipation Capacity – Officer for the FBA International Law Section \nLinda Strite Murnane served as an Associate Justice on the High Court for the Republic of the Marshall Islands from November 2022 to November 2024.  She remains available to assist the court as a pro tem resource as the Republic of the Marshall Islands completes the process of identifying a replacement for her on the High Court. \nLinda holds a B.A. from the Christopher Newport College of the College of William and Mary (Dean’s Honors) and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.  She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association.  She is a past chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) National Conference of Specialized Court Judges and the ABA Judicial Division.  She previously served as co-chair of the ABA International Law Section’s International Human Rights Committee and Lawyers Abroad Committees\, as well as in a variety of vice chair roles with other International Law Section Committees and Interest Networks.  She served six years on the ABA ILS Executive Council. \nColonel Murnane served 29.5 years on active duty with the United States Air Force.  She enlisted in 1974 as an airman basic\, the lowest enlisted grade.  She earned her B.A. and J.D. degrees both while serving on active duty.  She served as a public affairs specialist (journalist/photo journalist) while enlisted.  After earning her commission as a second lieutenant\, she served as a supply officer at Nellis AFB\, NV\, and Keesler AFB\, MS\, then as a public affairs officer (community relations specialist) and protocol officer before being selected to complete her law degree under the Air Force’s Funded Legal Education Program.  She transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps in 1981 in the grade of captain upon completion of her J.D. and passage of the Ohio Bar.  She served as a prosecutor\, defense counsel\, claims officer\, legal assistance officer\, chief military justice\, deputy staff judge advocate and staff judge advocate before her appointment as a military trial judge and chief circuit military judge for the United States Air Force.  She served 10 consecutive years as a military judge including chief circuit military judge (CCMJ) for Europe and for the Eastern Circuit\, Bolling Air Force Base\, Washington\, D.C.  While in the position of CCMJ for Europe\, she presided at the first trials for U.S. airmen in both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom while serving on active duty\, trying cases in Oman\, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.  She also served on the first military assistance team sent to Rwanda following the genocide. \nFollowing her retirement from active duty in 2004\, she served two years as Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights\, five years as the senior legal officer\, chief court management services\, acting head of chambers and acting deputy registrar at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and three years as the chief court management services at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.  She was the Senior International Attorney for the U.S. Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (DIILS) from 2008-2009\, and participated in global human rights and rule of law training with DIILS in Argentina\, Latvia\, Liberia\, Zambia\, Rwanda\, and Papua New Guinea\, and oversaw training programs by other faculty members globally in her role at DIILS. \nColonel Murnane serves as Chair of the U.S. Chapter of the Pan American Commission of Judges on Social Justice.  In that role\, she was invited to speak at the Vatican in 2019 and again in 2023. \nDuring her military career she earned the Legion of Merit among her other military decorations.  She received the Ohio State Bar Association’s Nettie Cronise Lutes Award in 2003 for opening doors to women and girls in the field of law\, the ABA Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement in 2008 and ABA International Law Section’s Mayre Rasmussen Award for opening opportunities in international law for women in 2016.  She was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in November 2021 and the Greene County\, Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2022.  She received the Mattie Belle Davis and Justice Vaino Spencer Awards from the National Association of Women Judges. \nShe is married to Kevin Murnane\, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel\, and mother of two daughters\, Christina Veillon and Rachel Manuel.  She has three grandchildren\, Cody and Abrial Leger and Aidan Ray Manuel. \n\nRegistration\nVirtual registration is closed. \nAttendance is free for anyone interested\, and we encourage you to invite your networks to participate. The program is in-person for those local to New York City\, and virtual for those unable to join in-person on March 14\, 2025\, from 10:30 – 12:00 ET. \nTo participate in-person: This event is an official Parallel Event being held at the NGO CSW Site across the street from the United Nations. In-person attendees must register directly with the NGO CSW Forum here on their website. Note: Participation in this event will not enable you to attend events within the United Nations Building itself. Here is the address for this event: \nChurch Center for the United Nations (CCUN)\n777 United Nations Plaza\nNew York\, NY 10017\n11th Floor – Assigned room is TBD  \n  \n\nCLE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlease note CLE will not be offered for this event. 
URL:https://www.fedbar.org/event/hybrid-event-women-in-the-judiciary-striving-for-gender-balance/
LOCATION:OH
CATEGORIES:International Law Section,Judiciary Division
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