News & Info

• NCAWA Statement on the Recent Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson - Over the last 44 years since our founding, the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys has dedicated itself to promoting the rights of women under the law. In 1979, resolving to support reproductive freedom for all women, NCAWA adopted a resolution to endorse the right of women to exercise their reproductive freedom to carry their pregnancies to term with adequate prenatal care or to have an abortion. In September 2021, NCAWA joined more than 30 organizations of women lawyers and law students in signing an amicus brief in support of respondents in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. NCAWA is extremely saddened and disappointed by the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022 in overturning the nearly 50 years of U.S. Supreme Court precedent set by Roe v. Wade. We are fearful of the clear attack we are seeing on substantive due process and individual rights previously recognized by this Nation’s highest Court.  The freedom and autonomy of one’s body is a basic individual right that empowers a person to choose when, if, and how to start or add to their family. This decision will undoubtedly result in women being forced into bearing children that are unwanted or unintended, or risk civil and criminal penalties under the state laws that are anticipated to be passed by state legislatures. Further, this decision will disproportionately impact economically disadvantaged and minority women, expanding the economic disadvantages of those groups. Of the utmost concern is the inevitable rise in maternal deaths that will result from this decision. Data prior to Roe v. Wade demonstrates that women will continue to seek abortions through unsafe and dangerous options. NCAWA, however, is not deterred. We will continue to be resolute in our fight for the rights of women under the law as we have been fighting for such basic rights since our inception in 1978. We will continue our advocacy efforts in hopes of reversing this dangerous precedent, providing support to women who choose to exercise their right to seek an abortion, and advocating for women to receive the safe reproductive medical care they deserve as free and equal citizens.

• In September 2021, NCAWA joined more than 30 organizations of women lawyers and law students in signing an amicus brief in support of respondents in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which could overturn Roe v. Wade and almost 50 years of constitutional jurisprudence guaranteeing reproductive freedom to women.  Taking a position on this critical issue is in keeping with NCAWA's second Resolution, adopted in 1979, endorsing "the right of all women to exercise their reproductive freedom to carry their pregnancies to term with adequate pre-natal care or to have an abortion."  Read the brief here.

• NCAWA recently submitted two letters to North Carolina General Assembly, this letter supporting increased funding for the judicial system and eCourts on July 13, 2021 and this letter in support of extending Medicaid to twelve months post-partum on June 28, 2021.

• On June 28th, 2021, NCAWA submitted this letter in support of the proposed amendments to the Preamble and the Comment to Rule 1.1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

• On June 7, 2021, NCAWA (joined by the North Carolina Advocates for Justice Women's Caucus and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys' Women Litigators Committee) submitted this letter requesting that the NC Board of Law Examiners consider and adopt the consider and adopt the American Bar Association’s model policy regarding the allowance and use of menstrual products during the bar exam.

• Thank you so much to everyone that donated as part of our Food from the Bar fundraising event! With your help, we raised $7,117.70 to help fight hunger this summer across the state. A special thank you to Barre3 Cary, Brenna Crowson, and Nicole Winget for donating their time and talent so we could offer a weekly donation class each week of the event. Thank you for those who participated in those classes and helped us spread the word about this event. One last special and colossal thank you to The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, who donated $1,000 to each of the five Feeding America food banks that benefitted from the event. The total donations received per food bank are:

            Food Bank of the Abermarle - $1,194
            Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina - $1,215
            Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC - $1,199.50
            MANNA FoodBank - $1,344.20
            Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC - $2,165

  We hope to see more law firms and other businesses participate in the future, but this was a great start to what we hope becomes an annual tradition that grows each year. Together, we can make a difference!

• In February 2021, more than 70 members, board members, past presidents, and friends of NCAWA joined this letter submitted to the North Carolina State Bar Ethics Committee expressing support for proposed anti-discrimination amendments to the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct.  NCAWA will continue to closely monitor developments related to these proposed amendments.

• On January 12, 2021, the NCAWA Board of Directors issued this Statement regarding events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

 Please continue to check back for more information about NCAWA's activities and events.