Hampshire Probate and Family Court Sponsors Roundtable
on Cultural Issues
As part of the Probate and Family Court’s ongoing initiative to provide information to those people who utilize the Probate and Family Court, a roundtable discussion was held on April 21, 2009 at the Hampshire Probate and Family Court. The court, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, sponsored the discussion which focused on cultural issues within the context of court proceedings.
The group of twenty-five, which included members of the bar, as well as court staff, discussed how to identify when an interpreter is needed and how to determine whether the judge hearing the case needs to know about the litigant’s cultural background. The lively discussion also included tips for best practices for attorneys representing clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, negotiation tools and views from the bench.
The roundtable was organized by Beth Crawford, the Assistant Judicial Case Manger in the Hampshire Probate and Family Court and the current President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the AFCC. The panel participants included Judges Linda Fidnick, Gail L. Perlman, and Geoffrey Wilson of the Probate and Family Court, as well as attorneys Marianne Zurn, of Zurn, Sharp & Heyman, and Wendy Berg, of Western Massachusetts Legal Services. Attorney Kathleen Townsend moderated the discussion.
Chief Justice Carey shares, “I am grateful that discussions such as this one are held, as each discussion heightens awareness to the differences in cultures, and how a person’s cultural background may effect their relationships, interactions and decisions. I appreciate the panelists for taking the time to bring these issues to the forefront.”
This roundtable discussion was the first of a series. Additional discussions will be held in Norfolk and Essex
counties.
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From Left - Hon. Geoffrey Wilson, Marianne Zurn, Esq., Hon. Linda Fidnick,
Hon. Gail Perlman, Beth Crawford, Esq., Kathleen Townsend, Esq. |
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