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VP of Publications’ Message
from Counterbalance - Summer 2022
by NAWJ
Vice President of Publications Message
hank you to all who submitted articles for this issue of Counterbalance. The Summer Counterbalance issue embodies NAWJ President Judge White’s theme of inclusivity as a means of effecting change. We’ve focused this issue on the grassroots work our members are doing through committee engagement. With more than 25 active groups covering everything from the needs of “Women in Prisons” and Human Trafficking, to Rural Courts and Diversity and Inclusion, our judges are leading their communities and improving access to justice for all.
This issue presents an article by Hon. Heidi Pasichow, Committees Liaison to the NAWJ Board. As she explains, the Committees provide a framework and an opportunity for all association members to contribute dynamically toward fulfilling the Association’s mission to “promote the judicial role of protecting the rights of individuals under the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse judicial leadership; fairness and equality in the courts; and equal access to justice.” This issue spotlights the Fairness and Access Committee and member Hon. Diana L. Leyden, Special Trial Judge, U.S. Tax Court, writes about the role that empathy plays in the practice of law and in the courtroom. She presents the thesis that practicing empathy makes us better judges, which is a key mission of the Fairness and Access Committee. Finally, in this issue, Supervising Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice, Hon. Jodi Cleesattle, provides a profile of the work of retired San Diego Superior Court Judge Susan Finlay. As she explains, through contacts Judge Finlay made 50 years ago, she has launched a global partnership serving the needs of villagers in a remote region of Tanzania. This story is inspirational and reveals the meaningful work that NAWJ judges continue doing once they turn their attention away from the bench activities.
It is my distinct honor to edit this Counterbalance issue, and to keep you informed and connected across our districts and across the country. It is a joint effort, and impossible to achieve without the steady leadership of Laurie Denham, NAWJ’s Executive Director, and her skilled team including Janelle Mihoc. I encourage each of our members to share activities, scholarly articles, and ideas with us so that NAWJ’s Counterbalance issues will continue to inspire and help our organization maintain its high standards of publication excellence.
Hon. Mimi Tsankov
Vice President of Publications
DISCLAIMER: The author is the President of the National Association of Immigration Judges. The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the official position of the United States Department of Justice, the Attorney General, or the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The views represent the author’s personal opinions, which were formed after extensive consultation with the membership of NAIJ.
