Judicial Independence Committee

MANDATE: To monitor developments related to the importance of an independent judiciary; to coordinate, publicize and track the College’s timely response to threats to the judiciary or attacks on judges; to promote the college’s support of fair and impartial courts at the state, province and federal level; and to recommend initiatives, as appropriate, to engage the College and Fellows in educating the public regarding the judiciary’s rule in protecting the rule of law.

President Rodney Acker on the College's Support of Judicial Independence

Recent Public Statements from the College

Fair and Impartial Courts - NAWJ Public Education Collaboration

Our Fair and Impartial Courts public education collaboration with the National Association of Women Judges is up and running. If you are not logged in, you will need to log in at the top of this page to access all the information you need to get involved in this critically important project.

Committee Members

Image of John Robbins Wester

John Robbins Wester

Chair

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.

Charlotte, NC

Image of Matthew E. Fishbein

Matthew E. Fishbein

Vice Chair

Image of Charles P. Boring

Charles P. Boring

Member

Robbins Alloy Belinfante Littlefield LLC

Atlanta, GA

Image of Daniel T. Brier

Daniel T. Brier

Member

Myers Brier & Kelly, LLP

Scranton, PA

Image of Pleasant S. Brodnax III

Pleasant S. Brodnax III

Member

Law Office of Pleasant S. Brodnax, III

Washington, DC

Image of P. Clarkson Collins, Jr.

P. Clarkson Collins, Jr.

Member

Morris James LLP

Wilmington, DE

Image of W. Neil Eggleston

W. Neil Eggleston

Member

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Washington, DC

Image of Richard A. Frye

Richard A. Frye

Member

Image of Nancy Gertner

Nancy Gertner

Member

Harvard Law School

Cambridge, MA

Image of Mark Holscher

Mark Holscher

Member

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Los Angeles, CA

Image of Larry H. Krantz

Larry H. Krantz

Member

Krantz & Berman LLP

New York, NY

Image of Frank Marrocco

Frank Marrocco

Member

Superior Court of Justice

Toronto, ON

Image of Roberto Martinez

Roberto Martinez

Member

Colson Hicks Eidson

Coral Gables, FL

Image of A. Howard Matz

A. Howard Matz

Member

Bird Marella Boxer Wolpert Nessim Drooks Lincenberg Rhow APC

Los Angeles, CA

Image of Martha McCarthy

Martha McCarthy

Member

McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

Toronto, ON

Image of Carolyn S. Ostby

Carolyn S. Ostby

Member

Image of Natalie A. Tarantino

Natalie A. Tarantino

Member

Snohomish County Public Defender

Everett, WA

Image of Kent E. Thomson

Kent E. Thomson

Member

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Toronto, ON

Image of Kathleen M. Trafford

Kathleen M. Trafford

Member

Image of T. John Ward

T. John Ward

Member

Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC

Longview, TX

Image of Jason Rogers Williams

Jason Rogers Williams

Member

Orleans Parish District Attorney

New Orleans, LA

Image of Mary Virginia York

Mary Virginia York

Member

Holland & Hart LLP

Boise, ID

Image of Blair C. Yorke-Slader, K.C.

Blair C. Yorke-Slader, K.C.

Member

Bennett Jones LLP

Calgary, AB

Image of Gregory M. Lederer

Gregory M. Lederer

Regent

Lederer Weston Craig PLC

Cedar Rapids, IA