September 2026 President's Letter

Finishing the Year with Purpose

Dear NAWJ Family,

September has a way of arriving at full speed.

Schools are back in session. Court calendars are filling. Committees are moving. Families are settling into new routines. And for many of us, the slower pace of summer has quickly given way to a very full fall.

It is a busy season—but it is also a season of opportunity.

As we move into the final months of 2026, I have been thinking about what it means to finish the year with purpose.

For NAWJ, that means continuing to be intentional about the relationships we build, the judges we support, the opportunities we create, and the ways we show up for one another.

One of the things I have appreciated most this year is seeing NAWJ members do exactly that—in programs, committees, mentoring relationships, district activities, partnerships, and countless conversations that may never make a newsletter but matter deeply to our organization.

Purpose is not always found in the biggest initiative or the most visible accomplishment. Sometimes it is found in reaching out to a colleague, encouraging a newer judge, making an introduction, sharing an opportunity, or simply making the time to stay connected.

So as September begins, I encourage each of us to ask:

How can I be intentional about strengthening NAWJ before this year ends?

Perhaps it is reconnecting with a member you have not spoken with in a while. Inviting someone to become more involved. Supporting a district program. Mentoring a newer judge. Sharing an idea. Or making one connection that strengthens our NAWJ community.

There is still so much opportunity in the months ahead.

And, of course, October will bring many of us together in New Orleans for our Annual Conference—another opportunity to learn, connect, collaborate, and continue the work we have been doing throughout the year.

As we enter this busy fall season, I hope we do so with renewed energy and with purpose—recognizing that every connection we strengthen and every opportunity we create moves NAWJ forward.

Let’s finish the year with purpose, together.

Warmly,

The Honorable Pamela Scott Washington
President, National Association of Women Judges