Journal of Women and the Law instates advisory panel

Well read The William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law is currently the third most frequently-cited gender law journal in the country. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

by Christina Jacquet, W&M Law School | October 16, 2009

The William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law has announced the creation of a high-profile advisory panel beginning with its January 2010 issue. The Journal is a publication of the William & Mary Law School. It is currently the third most frequently-cited gender law journal in the United States.

The Journal’s early leaders sought advice from a team of lawyers and judges from around the country, who served as an advisory panel. In later years, the advisory panel drifted into disuse. This year’s editorial board decided to resurrect the idea.

Professor Jayne Barnard, faculty adviser for the Journal, said, "The Journal benefited greatly in its early years from the wisdom and enthusiasm of its advisory committee. We decided that assembling a group of outstanding women to provide ideas and encouragement to today's students could only strengthen an already strong Journal."

The new advisory panel will be comprised of a group of distinguished women specially invited by the Journal's editorial board. The eleven-member panel includes Jessica Arons ('00), Director of the Women's Health and Rights Program at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.; Beth DeSimone ('84), partner at Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C.; Anna Engh ('89), partner at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.; Linda Jackson ('94), partner at Venable in Tysons Corner, VA; Judge Karen Jennemann ('83) of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida; Justice Barbara M. Keenan of the Supreme Court of Virginia; Justice Elizabeth B. Lacy, Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia; Courtney Lynch ('03), founder of Lead Star in Fairfax, VA; Judge Eileen Olds ('82) District Court Judge in Chesapeake, VA; Anita Poston ('74), partner at Vandeventer & Black in Norfolk, VA; and Margaret Strand ('76), partner at Venable in Washington, D.C.

Editor in Chief Janice Craft ('10) said, "I am heartened by the commitment of each advisory panel member to the furtherance of law and gender scholarship, and to the continued success of the Journal." Barnard echoed that sentiment, noting the “amazing trove of knowledge and ideas” among these alumni and friends of the Law School.

The Journal of Women and the Law was founded in 1993 to provide a forum for scholarly debate and discussion of the legal issues created by gender-bias in the law and society. Recent issues have included articles such as, "When Freedom is Not Free: Investigating the First Amendment's Potential for Providing Protection Against Sexual Profiling in the Public Workplace" and "Mothers Without Borders: Undocumented Immigrant Mothers Facing Deportation and the Best Interests of Their U.S. Citizen Children."