At the Federal Courthouse, Newark, New Jersey
Judge Christine Muga-Abad of the 12th Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Moalboal-Badian-Alcantara, Cebu and a law professor at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu City was recently awarded a scholarship by the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) to attend the 2011 NAWJ 33rd Annual Conference held at Newark, New Jersey from October 12 to 16, 2011. The International Scholarship Committee of NAWJ was charged with selecting judges from all parts of the world who would benefit from attendance at the Conference, judges who are committed to improving the lives of women in general and the roles of women judges in their courts and finally, who would share the knowledge gained with other women judges in their country. She was the only Asian awarded with the scholarship. Other recipients were from Honduras, Bosnia, Malawi, Tanzania, Egypt, Cameroon and Botswana.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Global Women’s Issues”, recognizing that women worldwide share issues of common concern but may address them differently for historic, cultural and legal reasons. The opening program of the conference was held at Newark Hilton Hotel, where the guests were billeted for the duration of the conference.
In front of the Rutgers School of Law - Newark
The NAWJ scholars and the other international judges were given a two-day pre-conference tour of the State Courts including the Essex County Historic Courthouse and the Federal Courts at Newark, New Jersey. They were able to observe how the US courts conduct the trial of a civil and criminal case. During the main conference, an all-day symposium including programs featuring academics, US and international judges, prosecutors and human rights advocates discussed violence against women, deprivation of women’s property rights, and human trafficking at the Rutgers School of Law-Newark. The plenary session at Rutgers School of Law also examined how to promote global equality for women and prevention of human trafficking. There was also a short education program at the Seton Hall University School of Law, N.J. where the following topics were lectured and discussed: Cross-cultural Issues in the Court, Family law-Domestic Violence Issues, Forensic Evidence, Immigration Considerations in your Courtroom and Effective Leadership Styles for Judges.
During the last night of the conference the NAWJ held an Annual Awards Banquet at the “The Newark Club, One Newark Center”. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States was the keynote speaker. She was sworn in as the 107th justice to the United States Supreme Court in August, 1993, she became the second woman to sit in this court (Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman) and the first Jewish justice since 1969.
Judge Christine Muga-Abad, a consistent honor student during her school days, is an alumna of the Cebu Normal University – Integrated Laboratory School and the Cebu City National Science High School. She took her pre-law degree from the University of the Philippines – Diliman, and completed her law degree from the University of St. La Salle – College of Law, Bacolod City. Before joining the judiciary, she was a Graft Investigation & Prosecution Officer II at the Office of the Ombudsman – Visayas.
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At the Library of Congress with other Filipino Lady Judges
Inside the Capitol with the other Filipino Lady Judges
