Partnership with the Women's Law Caucuses at the three law schools in our state, Gonzaga University, Seattle University, and the University of Washington has allowed the Commission to bring the resources of the National Association of Women Judges to bear to provide increased opportunities for mentorship, networking, education, and scholarship funding to Washington's next generation of women in the law.
Passage of HB2747 came in 2009 - 2010 with the help of members of the SU Women's Law Caucus working with Legal Voice and select members of the Commission to research, craft and support and pass a bill sponsored by the Honorable Jeannie Darneille and the Honorable Karen Fraser. This law prevents the shackling of incarcerated pregnant women during transport and delivery.
The Color of Justice was offered in 2006 at Gonzaga University by Judges Linda Tompkins and Sara Derr working with the Spokane Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers, Gonzaga University Law School, and Spokane Public School District 18. It was facilitated again at the Seattle University School of Law in 2008 and 2009 by Professor Natasha Martin. One of the strategies the Commission has adopted in working toward gender equality is to encourage young girls and youth of color to explore legal careers. The Color of Justice program, created by the National Association of Women Judges, provides students the opportunity to meet women and people of color from the bench and the bar.
A Judicial Reception and Program was sponsored at the Temple of Justice in June, 2007 by the Commission in collaboration with the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ). The event was attended by Trial and Administrative law judges and attorneys from all across the state.
