CONSTITUTION OF THE JAMAICA
ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES
1. NAME
- The Association shall be known as the Jamaica Association of Women Judges (JAWJ).
2. INTERPRETATION
"judicial office" - shall include judge, registrar, deputy registrar, and any other person appointed or serving in a judicial or adjudicatory capacity, including members of tribunals, boards, commissions or other similar judicial or adjudicatory bodies.
"meeting" - where any reference is made in this Constitution to a meeting, teleconferencing and video conferencing and meetings conducted by any other electronic means shall constitute a valid meeting.
"members" - where any reference is made in this Constitution to members it shall have the meaning ascribed in clause 4 and shall mean members in good financial standing.
"notice" - where any reference is made in this Constitution to a notice of a meeting, notice conveyed by electronic means shall be valid notice.
3. OBJECTIVES
3.1 The Association is organized for the purpose of promoting greater understanding and better resolution of legal issues facing women and issues concerning women judges, and in particular:
(a) to encourage co-operation and collaboration among women judges;
(b) to contribute to the understanding and resolution of legal issues facing women;
(c) to increase understanding of the broad range of social, economic, psychological and cultural factors that influence women who interface with the justice system;
(d) to increase understanding about women judges, their numbers, the processes by which they are selected, the barriers which may interfere with their selection, with a view to achieving a judiciary which more accurately reflects the population it serves;
(e) to increase understanding of human rights law and the role of the judiciary in implementing that law to promote and protect the rights of women on an equal basis;
(f) to support programmes and activities which discourage violence in our society;
(g) to provide a clearinghouse and resource centre to disseminate information affecting women judges;
(h) to engage in research, education, international, regional or national conferences, judicial exchanges, and training programmes which contribute to the understanding and the resolution of legal issues facing women;
(i) to cooperate with the International Association of Women Judges in the furtherance of its objects; and
(j) to cooperate and work with other national, regional and international associations, bodies, organizations, and governments on issues of interest to women judges and women in Jamaica and to achieve the above objects.
3.2 In order to promote the above aims, the Association may:
(a) hold, arrange or assist in meetings, judicial exchanges, conferences or seminars;
(b) promote or arrange mentoring schemes for judges and judicial officers;
(c) promote, sponsor or engage in study and research;
(d) publish or assist in the publication of educational materials for judges, attorneys at law, policy makers and members of the public on these and related topics;
(e) do all things necessary and/or proper to accomplish these and similar purposes.
4. MEMBERS
4.1 Any person who holds or has retired from a permanent or salaried judicial office is eligible to be a full voting member and hold office.
4.2 Upon nomination by the officers;
(i) any person may be elected to honorary membership in recognition of outstanding contribution towards the achievement of any of the Association’s objectives
(ii) any person who supports the objectives of the Association may be elected as a supporting member. Such members shall not have any voting rights and shall not hold office.
5. OFFICERS
5.1 The Officers shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer and an Assistant Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected and shall hold office for a period of two years, and shall be eligible for re-election for a further term.
5.2 The Immediate Past President shall be a member of the Executive.
5.3 The Association may invite persons of distinction, whether or not members of the Association, to be Patrons. Patrons shall hold office for five years and may be eligible for re-appointment for a further term of two years.
5.4 The Association may elect up to three floor members so that each tier of the Jamaican Court system is reflected in the composition of the Executive.
6. MANAGEMENT
6.1 The affairs of the Jamaica Association of Women Judges shall be directed by an Executive Committee, which shall consist of the Officers.
6.2 The Executive Committee shall be entitled to co-opt 3 additional members with a view to securing appropriate representation from each county in Jamaica.
6.3 A meeting of the Executive Committee shall be valid only when a quorum of 5 members is present. The business of the Executive Committee may also be transacted by correspondence, email or other form of electronic communication.
6.4 The Executive Committee may appoint sub-committees, which may include persons who are not members of the Executive Committee.
7. GENERAL MEETINGS
7.1 A first Business Meeting of the Association shall be convened as soon as possible after it is launched. The purpose of the Business Meeting shall be to adopt the Constitution of the Association, elect the first Officers and attend to all preliminary matters concerning the Association. All business transacted at the first business meeting shall be deemed to be valid.
7.2 An Annual General Meeting shall be held. It shall be convened by the Secretary on the instructions of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall give to all members at least one calendar month’s notice of the holding of such a meeting.
7.3 The quorum of an Annual General Meeting shall be 15 members present.
7.4 The Annual General Meeting shall conduct the following business:
Receive the Annual Report of the Executive Committee;
Approve the Annual Accounts of the Association;
Appoint an auditor of the accounts;
Discuss such other matters and motions as shall be necessary;
Discuss and vote on amendments to the Constitution.
To elect officers when necessary.
7.5 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be held. It shall be convened by the Secretary on the instructions of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall give to all members 7 days notice of such a meeting.
7.6 The quorum of an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be 11 members present.
8. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
8.1 Except for the first business meeting of the Association the Secretary shall invite from all members nominations for such offices as are due to fall vacant or have become vacant. Nominations shall be made in writing by at least one member and shall be signed by the person nominated indicating his or her willingness to serve.
8.2 Except for the first business meeting whenever elections are required they shall take place at the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting by secret or open ballot of the membership.
8.3 Those elected shall take office from the date of the election. Officers and members duly elected shall serve for the periods set out in this Constitution.
9. FINANCE
9.1 The subscription payable by members of the Association shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
9.2 The financial resources of the JAWJ shall be applied by and at the direction of the Executive Committee solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Association as set forth in this Constitution, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the Association or Executive Committee, provided that nothing therein shall prevent the repayment of approved out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a direct result of the carrying out by any Officer, member of the executive Committee or other authorized persons of duties in connection with the Association’s business. Should the Association be wound up, any surplus funds shall be transferred to a registered charity as the Executive Committee may determine.
9.3 The Executive Committee shall by resolution determine upon whose signature or signatures cheques may, for the time being, be drawn upon the Association’s accounts with their bankers.
9.4 The financial year shall run from the 7th day of January 2017 to the 6th January next following.
10. AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
10.1 Amendments to this constitution shall be by resolution passed by no fewer than two-thirds of those members present and voting at a General Meeting. Such a resolution shall not be considered unless:
(a) notice of intention to move the resolution has been submitted to the Executive Committee;
(b) such a resolution be proposed by at least three members;
(c) notice of such a resolution be given to all members not less than thirty days before the General Meeting.