On February 6 and 7, 2022, Mary Ann Ruiz attended the annual Florida Association for Women Lawyers (“FAWL”) Lobby Days event in Tallahassee, Florida.
The three-day event is intended to engage FAWL members in the legal advocacy of issues important to women lawyers and includes training on the legislative process and advocacy skills. Members met with Florida legislators, House and Senate Committee staff, and legislative aides at the Florida State Capitol to discuss legislation to advance the cause of women in society.
Ms. Ruiz met with Senator Lori Berman, District 31, and Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, District 39, to discuss and promote the advancement of Senate Bill 1518, which if enacted, would require dedicated lactation spaces in all courthouses statewide.
Ms. Ruiz also connected with Representative Felicia Robinson, District 102, and Representative Marie Woodson, District 101, both of whom represent districts serving Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
Since 2020, Ms. Ruiz has served as a member of FAWL’s Legislative Committee, where she has advocated for and actively assisted in the preparation of SB 1518. As of February 2022, SB 1518 has gained unanimous favor in two separate Senate committees and continues to advance in the legislative process.
Ms. Ruiz is also a member of the local Miami-Dade Chapter of FAWL (MDFAWL). In 2021, Ms. Ruiz worked with MDFAWL, Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Chief Judge Emeritus of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Bertila Soto, and Miami-Dade County staff to determine the status of lactation spaces in all Miami-Dade County courthouses. She helped MDFAWL apply for and obtain FAWL grants for two lactation rooms. The work also resulted in the installation of a lactation pod in the North Dade Justice Center. She is currently working on an MDFAWL lactation room restocking program to hopefully begin in 2022.
