October 2025 President's Letter

Dear Sisters and Allies in the Law,

As my term as President of NAWJ comes to a close, I write to you with deep gratitude and pride. Serving in this role has been the honor of a lifetime. Thank you for your trust, your encouragement throughout the year, and your wise counsel. I could not have done this without you.

Reflecting on the past year, I’m reminded of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!—a fitting metaphor for our journey together:

You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Whenever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t. Because sometimes you won’t…

This year, NAWJ focused on building meaningful connections—both within our organization and across the broader legal community. Thanks to the leadership of Executive Director Laurie Denham, NAWJ is recognized nationally and internationally as a leading voice for women judges. We’ve strengthened ties with key bar associations and legal organizations, including the ABA, NAPABA, NJC, NCJFCJ, NCSC, Lavender Law, the Federal bench and bar, ABOTA, and ACAN. These partnerships have amplified our impact and affirmed our role as thought leaders on critical issues facing the judiciary.

Internally, we’ve prioritized member engagement and leadership development. Under the guidance of Judge Kathy King and Zenell Brown, our membership team has explored how NAWJ can better serve its members. We’ve hosted virtual district meetings to deepen our understanding of local initiatives and launched committee-driven webinars to foster leadership and collaboration. If you have a programming idea, I encourage you to join a committee and help bring it to life.  In the coming future, NAWJ will hold regional meetings that are intended to enhance the connectivity of members within districts.

The theme of my presidency—Access to Justice is Justice for All—has guided my work. At our mid-year conference in Ann Arbor, we examined how the justice system can better serve marginalized communities. We acknowledged the challenges that persist and reaffirmed our commitment to justice for all. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Executive Committee, Status Directors, District Directors, and our dedicated Resource Board members. Your contributions have been invaluable.

I also want to recognize our exceptional NAWJ staff: Laurie Denham, Francie Teer, Janelle Mihoc, and Brian Gorg. Though many members may not interact with them directly, their behind-the-scenes work powers our organization. We thrive because of their dedication.

Finally, to all NAWJ members: thank you. We are a family—united by our commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, and the protection of the vulnerable. Even in challenging times, your steadfast dedication inspires hope. May our shared love of the law continue to guide us as we uphold justice and democracy.

With gratitude and admiration,
The Honorable Michelle Rick
President, National Association of Women Judges