WBA 2010 ELECTION PROCESS and ANNUAL MEETING

The WBA is pleased to announce the commencement of the nomination process for the WBA Board of Directors Election 2010.  For an application, please click here. The nomination and application process closes on February 16, 2010.  Candidate applications and bios will be posted on the WBA web site on the evening of February 22^nd.  The Annual Meeting is Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at the Omni Parker House Hotel at 5:30 p.m.  **You must enclose a photo with your application**

If you have any questions about the process, please contact Nicci Meadow at 617-337-2218 or nicci.meadow@womensbar.org.

This year, candidates may also run for an open Regional Board seat from the following regional committees:

North Shore Committee

Western Massachusetts Committee

Cape Cod & the Islands Committee

A Regional Board Director must be a member of the Regional Committee she proposes to represent and must remain a member of that Regional Committee during her entire term as a Regional Board Director.

Each board candidate will be provided one minute to speak about her board candidacy at the Annual Meeting.

At the Annual Meeting, WBA members will be asked to vote on new Board members and officers, as well as to approve a change to the WBA bylaws.  Please click here to see the full text of the proposed new bylaw.

Please call your State Legislators and personally invite them to our Breakfast!

Use this link to find your elected officials: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

Congratulations to all Women of Justice Honorees

Deborah Anker, Navjeet Bal, Heidi Behforouz, Ruth Bourquin, Suzanne Bump. Laurie Carafone, Lael Chester, Jennifer Chunias, Gene Dahmen, Tami Dristilaris, Betsy Dunn, Leigh-Ann Durant, Susan Finegan, Ruth Ellen Fitch, Lynn Girton, Joanne Goldstein, Iris Gomez, Janet Ohle Green, Julia Huston, Elda James, Kristina Karpinski, Ann Lambert, Jennifer Levi, Josephine McNeil, Lissy Medvedow, Samantha Morton, Merry Nasser, Christina Paradiso, Hon. Charlotte Perretta (ret.), Pauline Quirion, Lauren Stiller Rickleen, Jackie Jenkins-Scott, Mimi Turchinetz, Jayne Tyrell, Gina Walcott, Lydia Watts, Susan Shard White, Nancy Wilsker, Valerie Yarashus, M. Hollis Young

ABA Commission on Women in the Profession has updated its annual "A Current Glance at Women in the Law," containing statistics on women in the legal profession. Click here for the report.

 WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS SJC ALIMONY RULING Click here for Press Release

WBA Employment Issues Committee Releases Groundbreaking Report

The report "Where are we now? A report on the occupational status of women attorneys in Massachusetts" is a quantitative study of where female and male lawyers in Massachusetts work. The report contains many striking findings; especially of note is the discovery that women lawyers, according to the report, "have left the legal profession in a greater proportion than men."

Click here to view the complete report. (PDF)
Click here to read the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article about the report. (MLW username and password required.)

News

Judicial Vacancies

None at this time.

Click here for the application form and instructions.

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WBA President Michelle Peirce Testifies on Important Domestic Violence Bill

Women’s Bar Association Urges State Legislature to Prohibit Discrimination Against Domestic Violence Victims

On September 29, 2009, WBA President Michelle Peirce again visited the State House to fight for the rights of women, in particular, victims of domestic violence. Peirce urged a favorable report on S627 An Act Relative to Relative to Housing Rights of Victims of Domestic Violence, Rape, Sexual Assault and Stalking. The ultimate adoption of this bill will create a defense to eviction if a landlord attempts to evict a tenant because he or she was a victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking. As too many women in our state know, owners of rental housing have refused to rent to prospective tenants because they have been victims of domestic violence. Without this protection, women may find themselves evicted and homeless because their landlords disapprove of loud noise from abusers or police visits the women cannot control. Just as discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity has been outlawed, so should discrimination on the basis of status as a victim of domestic violence.

The WBA is proud to continue encouraging the legislature to take a step in the right direction. It is not just our mission to advocate for women and other underrepresented people, but our duty to bring important issues to the highest levels of government to insist that our leaders to care about these constituents as well.

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WBA President Testifies at Judiciary Committee Hearing on Alimony Bills

The WBA supports S1616, An Act Relative to Flexibility in Alimony Orders, because it would allow the court to give short-term alimony, or alimony for a fixed period if appropriate. Durational alimony would allow individuals time to receive education and training so that they can enter the workforce and help support themselves and their children. Adding duration to the current law would allow the courts to continue to look at each case individually and also enable them to award more short-term alimony orders. Click here to read the Amicus Brief, written by WBF Supervising Attorney Rachel Biscardi.

The WBA opposes H1785, An Act Relative to the Determination of Alimony Payments, because it eliminates the partnership model of marriage that has been in place in the Commonwealth for decades. Currently, the court looks to the contributions each spouse has made to the family, including maintenance of a home and caring for children, as well as the accumulation of marital income and assets. It would replace this flexible and equitable approach with a rigid formula that would dramatically curtail the duration of alimony to half the length of the marriage, 12 years, or retirement at age 65, whichever comes first. In addition, after 5 years, alimony would be reduced by 10% per year.

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WBA testimony in support of H1728 and S1687

Darien Fleming testified on behalf of the WBA at the July 14, 2009 Judiciary Committee Hearing in support of H1728 and S1687, Acts Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes, which would explicitly include transgender people by adding “gender identity or expression” as a protected characteristic to Massachusetts statutes governing hate crimes and discrimination in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, and public education.

Click here to read the WBA's testimony.

WBA Celebrates Sotomayor Confirmation (August 7, 2009)

WBA members and staff at Court Advocacy Day, March 31, at the Massachusetts State House.

WBA in the News

WBA and WBF Elect BC Alumnae as Presidents (March 20, 2009)

Victimizing Rihanna (Boston Globe, Letters to the Editor) (March 19, 2009)

View photos from the New Admittees Reception (March 11, 2009)

Gender Equality in a Time of Economic Stress - read the full text of the speeches, reports and more from the Equality Commission Conference. (November 20, 2008)

View photos from the 2008 Gala (October 23, 2008)
Thanks to VP Solutions for providing photography services.

Download the WBA 30th Anniversary Slideshow - as seen at our 2008 Gala!
(Note: When the "File Download" window opens, select "Save." Must have Microsoft Office PowerPoint to view slideshow.)