Placing one arm over the other, New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) President Evelyn Padin demonstrated the International Women’s Day symbol for equality when she spoke last week at the inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit at Seton Hall Law School.
“Each for equal,” Padin said, repeating the 2020 campaign theme for International Women’s Day, before moderating a panel discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Panelists included state Superior Court Judge Lisa F. Chrystal; U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Cox Arleo; Paulette Brown, past president of the American Bar Association; and Lora Fong, chief diversity officer in the New Jersey attorney general’s office and a former NJSBA trustee.
Padin also kicked off the Women Empowering Women Summit at Dress for Success of Northern New Jersey where she called for the need for more women in positions of power and leadership and the need to continue to fight against discrimination.
“I believe women make difference when we have a seat at the table. When I first joined the board of the New Jersey State Bar Association, there were only a handful of women on it. Today, the board is about half women,” Padin said.
“It makes a difference not only to have a seat at the table, but to wield the gavel at the table in board rooms, courtrooms and legislatures. We need to be seen and our voices heard and respected,” she said.
Padin said when women are involved in public affairs, it shapes the national conversation by deciding what policies are prioritized “or even on the agenda at all.”
She noted this year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which finally granted women the constitutional right to vote. She hailed the many determined and courageous women involved in that long, hard fight.
“But look where we are today. We have much to be proud of. After the 2016 election, more women ran for political office than ever before and were elected to Congress. And in 2019, we had a record-breaking six women candidates run for president. As former presidential candidate U.S. Senator Kamala Harris said, ‘Women’s issues are everyone’s issues and all issues are women’s issues.’” Padin said.