Committee proposes new "Gender Justice" section
Oct. 30, 2001
The State Bar Special Committee on the Participation of Women in the
Bar announces plans to move forward with a proposal to convert from a
committee to a section to be known as the Gender Justice Section.
Committee members agree that "section status would better address the
goals of gender equality in the practice of law and in the justice
system," said Rhonda Werner Schultz, committee chair.
The proposed section's mission is to "promote professional
development and equal participation in the legal profession for lawyers,
regardless of gender, and to foster equality for all persons involved in
the justice system," said Schultz. "The mission statement expands upon
the committee's mission, focusing on gender equality rather than on
promoting equal participation of women in the bar and legal system."
The new section also would address concerns about work schedules and
life balance such as those expressed in 'The Difference a Difference
Makes,' an article Deborah Rhode wrote for the ABA Commission on Women
in the Profession. "Many workplace structures leave both men and women
feeling unfairly treated," writes Rhode. "Men feel that they have fewer
acceptable justifications than women for seeking reduced schedules.
Women feel that their justifications will never be seen as truly
acceptable as long as they are viewed as 'women's issues.'"
The committee is drafting bylaws for the proposed section and is
seeking Bar members' support for the change to section status. The
deadline to sign the petition
in support of creating the Gender Justice Section is Nov 30. For more
information contact Patricia
Morgan, committee project coordinator, at (608) 250-6107.
Please circulate the petition in support of the proposed Gender
Justice Section among your active, State Bar of Wisconsin member
colleagues. We request that each active State Bar of Wisconsin member
provide a signature and a printed version of that signature. Support
petitions will be forwarded to the State Bar's Board of Governors.
Thank you for your assistance. Petitions must be received at the
State Bar of Wisconsin by December 1, 2001. Fax your petition to
Patricia Morgan, Committee Project Coordinator, State Bar of Wisconsin.
Fax Number: 608-257-4343
