August's Scoop

Summer Garden Party Celebrating 40 Years of Leading Lady Lawyers
On August 16, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., we will host a garden party honoring the NNWLA Past Presidents at the home of the Honorable Lynne Simons.  This will be an elegant evening that you will not want to miss!  Light refreshments will be provided.  Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] by August 9, 2018.  We hope to see you all there!

If you are a NNWLA Past President, RSVP as soon as possible.  We will be doing something special for our Past Presidents at the event, which will require a little more advance notice. 

​Luncheon with Judge Drakulich on September 12th
NNWLA and the WCBA are co-hosting a lunchtime discussion with Judge Kathleen Draklulich on September 12th at noon at the Harrah’s Convention Center.  The price is $25 for a NNWLA or WCBA member and $30 for non-members.  1 hour CLE credit pending approval.  RSVP by September 10th at www.wcbar.org or by calling (775) 786-4494.

​Recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit Opinion Citing Sexist Comments from the Judiciary
Although not a case from our jurisdiction, the Washington Post recently featured an article about an appellate opinion which discussed a sexist comment from the district court judge that was allegedly directed towards a female attorney.  In the underlying case, a female prosecutor provided discovery to the defense after the discovery deadline.  U.S. v. Swenson, 894 F.3d 677, 681 (5th Cir. 2018).  Defense counsel moved to dismiss the indictment based on violations of Brady v. Maryland, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the court's discovery order.  Id. 

During the hearing for the motion, the district court stated: " 'You’re supposed to know what you’re doing. You’re supposed to be the one thinking of stuff.' The district court then apparently attributed her mistake to her sex: 'It was lot simpler when you guys wore dark suits, white shirts and navy ties.... We didn’t let girls do it in the old days.' ”  Id.  The district court granted the motion to dismiss.  Id.  

In the 5th Circuit Opinion, the Court noted in a footnote that defense counsel argued that the record was unclear as to whether the district court's statement was directed towards the prosecutor or other women present for the hearing.  Id., at f.n. 3.  Regardless of whom the comment was directed towards, "such comments are demeaning, inappropriate, and beneath the dignity of a federal judge."  Id.  When applying the standard for dismissal, the Court stated that "it seems the district court attributed the government's mistakes to the prosecutor's sex."  Id., at 685.  The Court concluded that the district court abused its discretion when it dismissed the indictment and remanded the case.  Id., at 686.  Furthermore, the Court also directed that the case be reassigned to a different district judge.  Id.  

Please click on this link to read the Washington Post article:  
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/07/29/we-didnt-let-girls-do-it-in-the-old-days-a-judge-said-inappropriate-a-higher-court-ruled/?utm_term=.a1104f3b3d3d

To read the 5th Circuit Opinion, please click on this link: https://images.law.com/contrib/content/uploads/documents/401/9248/Swenson.pdf

​WCBA's The Resilient Lawyer: An Experiential CLE
Join NNWLA members Margaret Crowley and Amy Tirre for 2 hours of CLE satisfying the new "Substance Abuse, Addiction and Mental Health Affecting Professional Competence" on Friday, August 10, 2018 from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the State Bar of Nevada Meeting Room, 9456 Double R Blvd., Reno NV.  

This is advertised as an "Outside of the Box" CLE.  During this CLE, you will cultivate mindfulness, learn simple techniques to reduce stress through movement and sensory integration, and create your Own Customized Plan for Stress Reduction and Resilience.

For more information on this CLE or to RSVP, click on this link: https://wcbar.org/resilient-lawyer-cle-reg-form/

​Membership Form for NNWLA Member's Only Online Referral Page
If you are a NNWLA member, please make sure to send us your information for the NNWLA Member's Only Online Referral Page.  We are creating a webpage where members can look to get and give referrals.  In order to make sure that your information is included, please fill out the attached form by clicking on this link or printing out the form below.  You can email the form to [email protected] or mail it to Jenna Garcia, P.O. Box 40953, Reno, NV 89504. 

Please make sure to send us your membership form so that you can be added to our members referral page!