Women's Caucus Fall Dinner 2014

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Speakers

Hon. Juliett L. Crawford Judicial District Courthouse
Hon. Irene P. Jacobs Superior Court G.A. 5
Hon. Linda Pearce Prestley Judicial District Courthouse (Family)

Additional Information

 

All are welcome to join us on October 15th at our Annual Women's Caucus Fall Dinner.  Enjoy cocktails and dinner overlooking the Connecticut shoreline at the lovely  Madison Beach Hotel while socializing with colleagues and gaining insight and perspective from prominent female judges. We are delighted to welcome Judge Juliett L. Crawford, Judge Irene P. Jacobs and Judge Linda Pearce Prestley of the Superior Court who will convey their experiences, lessons learned, knowledge and wisdom.

Honorable Juliett L. Crawford

     Judge Juliett L. Crawford was born in Barbados, West Indies. She graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law in January 1983 and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in May 1983.

     She was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court in January 1998, and has presided over criminal matters in Waterbury, including Part A trials, since 2008. She has also presided over family, child protection, juvenile, housing and foreclosure matters. Additionally, she served as presiding judge of the Hartford/New Britain and New Haven/Waterbury housing sessions.

     Judge Crawford is a trial practice instructor at Yale Law School and has been in this role since 1998. She is a member of the Criminal Justice Commission, a member and past secretary of the Connecticut Bar Association, a member and past president of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and a sustaining life fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation.

    Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Crawford was the supervisory assistant state’s attorney in Meriden for nine years. She was the first minority in the state’s history to be appointed to that position. Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a teacher and a legislative assistant in Washington, D.C. and served in the United States Army and Reserves.

Judge Crawford also served on the Rules Committee of the Superior Court and on civic organizations, including chair of the New Haven Civil Service Commission, past president and member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, and a first vice president and member of the Board of Directors of Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven.

     Judge Crawford has received recognition and awards, including the Thurgood Marshall Award for Excellence from Quinnipiac University School of Law, the Pride and Industry Award from the Barbados Charity Fund in New York and the Immigrant Award from the Connecticut Immigration and Refugee Coalition.

Honorable Irene Prosky Jacobs

Judge Irene Prosky Jacobs graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 1973 with a B.A. in sociology and French.  She received a M.A in psychology from Wesleyan University in 1980, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut Law School in 1986.  Judge Jacobs was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1986 and the U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, in 1989.

Judge Jacobs was appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court in 2014 by Governor Dannel P. Malloy and is currently assigned to hear criminal matters in Bridgeport G.A. 2.

Prior to Judge Jacobs’ appointment, she taught French, English, physics, social studies, functional math and functional literacy from 1972 to 1982.  After being admitted to the bar, Judge Jacobs worked for the firm of Jacobs and Jacobs, becoming a partner in 1997.  In addition, she was appointed as an arbitrator for the Superior Court, in 2002, 2004 and 2007.

Judge Jacobs is currently a member of the Connecticut Bar Association having served previously as a delegate to the House of Delegates and as a mentor; the New Haven County Bar Association having previously served as president, treasurer and as the CBA Liaison; the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association; and the New Haven Inn of Court having served previously as secretary.

Additionally, Judge Jacobs is an active member in the community.  She is a member of the Jewish Community Center/Jewish Federation of New Haven and previously served as the chairperson for numerous events and committees.  She previously served as a board member, service unit manager and troop leader to the Girl Scouts, Connecticut Trails Council; as a board and committee member of the Anti-Defamation League; as a member of the annual gala committee of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; as a board member of the Yale Figure Skating Club; and as a parent volunteer at Ezra Academy and Hopkins School.

Honorable Linda Pearce Prestley

The Honorable Linda Pearce Prestley was appointed to the Superior Court March 16, 2000. She is currently assigned to the Judicial District Courthouse in Tolland where she hears juvenile and family matters.              

Judge Prestley received her B.A. in 1978 from Hood College. She received her Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University in 1980 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1985.

Judge Prestley worked with the Attorney General’s Office in the Education and Child Protection Divisions from 1986 until 1997. In 1997 she was appointed as Connecticut’s Child Advocate, serving until 2000. As the child advocate, she acted as a watchdog over the Department of Children and Families and other agencies that provide state services to children. The Office of the Child Advocate also identified systemic issues impacting children and made recommendations for reform.

Judge Prestley has addressed children’s issues on a regular basis, locally and nationally, and was appointed Chairperson of the Child Fatality Review Panel from 1997 until 2000. In that capacity she reviewed child-deaths in the state of Connecticut and issued reports and recommendations for systemic reform.

Judge Prestley has also served as a licensed foster parent for the Department of Children and Families from 1995 to 2010.

Previous to her current position in Tolland, she served in Hartford hearing family cases and in New Britain as presiding judge of the Family Division. She has also had assignments in New Haven, Rockville and Enfield, having been assigned to family, civil and criminal courts.

 

Cocktail Reception: 5:30 pm
Dinner: 6:30 pm

Registration Fee:
CTLA Member: $65.00
Non-Member: $75.00

 

Entree Choices

Grilled Atlantic Swordfish
Black Angus Prime Rib
Butternut Squash Ravioli

Register online or call the CTLA office at (860) 522-4345 and please indicate entree choice.