Advancing Equal Access to Justice by Challenging Gender Bias

The Women's Bar Association of Maryland along with Maryland Carey Law's Women, Leadership & Equality Program and the Moser Ethics in Action Initiative is proud to announce: A Symposium on Advancing Equal Access to Justice by Challenging Gender Bias in the Legal Profession: What's Next?

Tentative Itinerary:

8:30-9:10: Registration and Coffee

9:10-9:30: Welcoming Remarks

• Donald B. Tobin, Dean,Maryland Carey Law

• Paula A. Monopoli, Sol & Carlyn Hubert Professor of Law and Founding Director, Women Leadership & Equality Program

• Margaret H. Oliver, Esq., President, Women’s Bar Association of Maryland

9:30-10:30: Panel I: When does Sexual Harassment and Discriminatory Bias Constitute Judicial Misconduct with Disciplinary Consequences?

Panelists and moderator:

• Panel introduction by the Honorable Paula Xinis, US District Court for the District of Maryland, President of the Federal Bar Association

• The Honorable Catherine C. Blake, US District Court for the District of Maryland

• The Honorable Toni E. Clarke, Circuit Court for Prince Georges County (ret.), Immediate past-chair ABA Judicial Division

• Glendora C. Hughes, Esq., General Counsel, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights

• Professor Margaret E. Johnson, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Experiential Education, University of Baltimore School of Law and Co-Director, Center on Applied Feminism

10:30-10:45: Break

10:45-11:45: Panel II: When does Incivility, Bullying, Sexual Harassment, or Free Speech amount to Unprofessional or Sanctionable Attorney Misconduct?

Panelists and moderator:

• Linda Lamone, Esq., Chair, Attorney Grievance Commission

• Lydia E. Lawless, Esq., Bar Counsel for the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland

• Thomas E. Lynch III, Esq., Miles & Stockbridge, P.C

• Kathleen Howard Meredith, Esq., Iliff, Meredith, Wildberger & Brennan, P.C.

11:45-12:00: Break

12:00-12:50: Lunch Provided

Lunch Remarks: the Honorable Mary Ellen Barbera, Chief Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals

12:50-1:40: Panel III: What’s Next? (immediately followed by four topic-designated Breakouts)

Panel III Introductions: Susan Carol Elgin, Esq.

1:40-2:40: Breakouts led by panelists and team members/discussion group leaders

Topic A: Why women leave the law Lessons to be learned, applied in the workplace especially when picking battles, making complaints, and pursuing investigations of gender-related misconduct.

Panelist:

• Roberta (Bobbi) D. Liebenberg, Esq., Past Chair ABA Commission on Women in the Profession

Breakout discussion group leaders:

• Reena K. Shah, Esq., Executive Director, Maryland Access to Justice Commission

• Jennifer L. Curry, Esq., Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C.

Topic B: Redefining and recognizing gender issues. Facing gender-related disparities in the legal profession; overcoming ignorance, incivility, implicit bias, race and intersectional concerns, gender identity and gender expression.

Panelists:

• Yodeski Acquie, Esq., Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

• Sam Williamson, Esq.

Breakout discussion group leader:

• Pamela C. Ortiz, Esq., Director Access to Justice, Administrative Office of the Courts

Topic C: Rules are rules. Legislative avenues and rule-making tools; finding, using the power to combat sexual harassment, bullying, incivility in the practice of law.

Panelists:

• Dolores Dorsainvil, Esq., D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel

• Michelle Siri, Esq., Executive Director Women’s Law Center

Breakout discussion group leader:

• Debra M. Lawrence, Esq., Regional Attorney U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Topic D: Gender Violence and Consequence. Difficulties responding to gender-based violence; navigating criminal and family courts, custody concerns.

Panelists:

• Professor Leigh Goodmark, Marjorie Cook Professor of Law and Co-Director, Clinical Law Program

• Dorothy Lennig, Esq., Legal Clinic Director, House of Ruth

Breakout discussion group leader:

• Susan Carol Elgin, Esq. Kaufman, Ries & Elgin PA

2:40-3:15: Reports back from Breakouts; recommended Next Steps

Closing Remarks: the Honorable Kathleen M. Dumais, Esq., Maryland House of Delegates and Ethridge Quinn Kemp McAuliffe Rowan & Hartinger