March 2008 Visit us at www.nycla.org Volume 4 / Number 2 Women’s Rights Committee: INSIDE GERALDINE FERRARO A bellwether in the advocacy of women’s rights TO RECEIVE EDITH I. SPIVACK AWARD 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Catherine A. Christian Several members of the Women’s Rights Committee pose with PROJECT RESTORE their chair, Edith I. Spivack (second from left), in a photo taken in In the fall of 2006, the Women’s Rights Committee and Gender the 1970s. Pictured are: Annette Elstein (first person on left), Fairness Committee of the New York County Supreme Court, Elizabeth Holtzman, then member of the U.S. House of Criminal Term, hosted a public forum examining the experiences 5 Representatives (third from the right), Rosalind S. Fink (second of women jurists and lawyers. Forum participants were (seated, from the right) and Peggy McDowell ((far right). from left to right): Hon. Dianne Renwick, Justice of the Supreme Court, Bronx County; Hon. Angela M. Mazzarelli, Associate Justice, MEMBER PROFILE n 1973, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision regarding Appellate Division, First Department, who served as moderator; Karen Freedman I abortion in Roe v. Wade when it struck down many state laws and Professor Penelope Andrews, CUNY School of Law. Standing restricting abortion in the U.S. That same year, NYCLA (from left to right) were: Marcia J. Goffin and Hon. Eileen A. President Wilbur Friedman appointed Edith I. Spivack chair of a Rakower, co-chairs of the Women’s Rights Committee; Hon. newly created Special Committee on Women’s Rights. The Bonnie G. Wittner, Judge, Criminal Court of New York City, and Committee soon became a standing committee and has been Chair, Gender Fairness Committee; and Ruth Cowan, Senior highly regarded since that time for its advocacy of equal rights Scholar, Women and Politics Institute, American University’s under the law for women. School of Public Affairs. During the lively question-and-answer Under Ms. Spivack’s leadership, the Women’s Rights Committee session, the women shared their personal and professional experi- 6 (WRC) examined and issued reports on: protective legislation for ences. They all agreed that they had had strong women role women in industry, underrepresentation of women employees in the models while they were growing up and mentors – both men and court system, disparity in estate law, tax relief for working parents, women – who have supported them throughout their careers. child care, maternity benefits and practices, civic discrimination and equal rights, and women’s property rights. committee from 1981 to 1984. Rosalind S. Fink, Of Counsel, Brill & Meisel, NYCLA’s first When asked why she decided to join NYCLA, Kay Murray said, woman president (1997-1998) and one of the first members of the “Because my husband had been a member of the Executive PRO BONO WRC, reminisced. “Edith guided each of us with wisdom, common Committee of what is now the New York City Bar Association, I sense and a unique generosity of time and spirit. Our committee’s preferred to join an association in which I could establish a name OPPORTUNITIES first luncheon forum,” she recalled, “featured Ruth Bader for myself. In addition, at that time I was an associate in a Wall EXPANDED Ginsburg, then a professor at Columbia Law School, speaking on Street law firm and it was more convenient for me to leave my by Malvina Nathanson Gender and the Constitution.” Ms. Fink also served as chair of the office to attend meetings at NYCLA for a couple of hours and then walk back to the firm rather than make the trip to midtown. Although I was over 40 years old, I was a very junior lawyer and 6 appreciated the welcome I received when I joined the WRC and SAVE THE DATE throughout the nine years I served on the Committee.” “The Committee,” explained Kay Murray (who chaired the CENTENNIAL PAGE WRC from 1984-1986), “provided me with an opportunity to In Honor of Women’s develop skills that greatly benefited my service on other commit- History Month: tees and boards on which I have served since then. These included Dorothy Kenyon tasks not taught in law school, such as taking accurate and concise minutes, delegating assignments and following up to ensure com- pletion of the task, steering discussion to a consensus and matching the abilities of members with tasks that needed to be done.” 11 According to Barbara T. Rochman, former president of NOW- The New York County Lawyers’ Association’s Annual NYC who served as WRC chair from 1990 to 1993, Ms. Fink Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 22, 2008 begin- recruited her to join NYCLA. In 1987, Ms. Rochman chaired a ning at 5:30 PM at St. Paul’s Chapel, across the street from WRC subcommittee that issued a three-part report, the Home of Law. Implementation of the Report of the New York Task Force on This Annual Meeting will celebrate the Centennial Year of the Women in the Courts. Lynn Kelly, who worked at The Legal Aid New York County Lawyers’ Association. Following the meeting, Society, chaired the committee at the time. “The WRC report,” Ms. a reception will take place at the Home of Law. Rochman explained, “analyzed the participation of women in See WOMENS RIGHTS, Page 14 GROW YOUR 401(k) WISELY Six things you won’t hear from other 401(k) providers... We were created as a not- 1. for-profit entity, and we exist to provide a benefit We leverage the buying power 2. of the ABA to eliminate firm expenses and minimize participant expenses Our fiduciary tools help you 3. manage your liabilities and save valuable time LEARN HOW Our investment menu has YOU CAN 4. three tiers to provide options GROW YOUR for any type of investor, 401(k) WISELY and our average expense is well below the industry average for mutual funds Call an ABA Retirement Funds Consultant at We eliminated commissions, 1-877-947-2272 5. which erode your savings, www.abaretirement.com by eliminating brokers We have benefit relationships 6. with 28 state bar and 3 national legal associations.* No other provider has more than one. * Alabama State Bar State Bar of Nevada State Bar of Arizona New Hampshire Bar Association Arkansas Bar Association State Bar of New Mexico Colorado Bar Association New York State Bar Association Connecticut Bar Association North Carolina Bar Association The District of Columbia Bar State Bar Association of North Dakota State Bar of Georgia Ohio State Bar Association Hawaii State Bar Association Oklahoma Bar Association Illinois State Bar Association Rhode Island Bar Association Indiana State Bar Association State Bar of Texas Kansas Bar Association Vermont Bar Association Louisiana State Bar Association Washington State Bar Association Maine State Bar Association State Bar of Wisconsin Minnesota State Bar Association Association of Legal The Mississippi Bar Administrators (ALA) For a copy of the Prospectus with more complete information, including charges and expenses associated with the Program, or to speak to a Program consultant, call 1-877-947-2272, or visit www.abaretirement.com or write ABA Retirement Funds P.O. Box 5142 • Boston, MA 02206- 5142 • [email protected]. Be sure to read the Prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. The Program is available through the New York County Lawyers Association as a member benefit. However, this does not constitute, and is in no way a recommendation with respect to any security that is available through the Program. 11/2007 March 2008 / New York County Lawyer 3 Geraldine Ferraro to receive Edith I. Spivack Award on March 17 CENTENNIAL On Monday, March 17, as part of the Institutions Subcommittee and 2006 recip- Association’s Women’s History Month cele- ient of the award. The topic of Ms. Ferraro’s CALENDAR OF EVENTS bration, NYCLA’s 11th Annual Edith I. speech will be women in politics. Events are subject to change; please check the Association’s website, Spivack Award will be presented to In honor of Ms. Spivack, the NYCLA www.nycla.org, for schedule changes and additions. Geraldine A. Ferraro, an attorney, Foundation established the Edith I. Spivack MARCH AUTHOR OF BELVA LOCKWOOD: THE Democratic politician, former member of Fund for Women in Law and Society in CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EVENT: WOMAN WHO WOULD BE PRESIDENT the U.S. House of 2005 to support programs for women and JUDICIAL RECEPTION Wednesday, April 16 Representatives and celebrate the achievements of women, both Thursday, March 6 6:00 PM businesswoman, at a in the profession and in the larger society. 6:00-7:30 PM Place: NYCLA Home of Law – 14 Vesey Street reception at the Tax-deductible donations to the Fund can Place: NYCLA Home of Law – 14 Vesey Street FREE Reading and book signing. NYCLA Home of Law be made in memory of Ms. Spivack and FREE: By invitation and for members only at 6:00 PM. Most should be made payable to the “NYCLA The reception recognizes Newly Elected, (For more information, please refer to the article on this page.) notably, Ms. Ferraro is Foundation – Spivack Fund” and sent to Appointed, Re-Elected and Re-Appointed the first and only Marilyn J. Flood, Esq., Executive Director Judges of the New York State Court of Appeals and the First Judicial District. Special CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EVENT: woman to date to repre- of the NYCLA Foundation, 14 Vesey Presentation to Hon. Ann T. Pfau, Chief NANETTE DEMBITZ LECTURE sent a major U.S. polit- Street, New York, NY 10007. Administrative Judge of All New York State Thursday, April 17 ical party as a candidate For more information about Ms.