April 2023 President's Letter

Spring has sprung! The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the District of Columbia metro area is practically covered in pink. Those of you who live in the District of Columbia area know full well the beauty of the area this time of year. For those who are not local, I would encourage you to visit during this this time of year when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

March was a busy month. I had the pleasure, as NAWJ President, of being on several panels in collaboration with other organizations and in honor of Women's History Month. On March 11th, I attended an in-person conference of the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals, where I was on a panel with other bar and judicial association leaders, discussing ways in which we can collaborate to support and promote our respective organizations. On March 15th, I was on a virtual panel for the Federal Bar Association Judiciary Division, discussing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession, particularly judicial clerkships. On March 24th, I was on a virtual panel hosted by the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, recognizing and celebrating the historical fact that for the first time, women are leading national bar associations in the country. The American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Native American Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association, and of course the National Association of Women Judges, were represented, discussing the importance of women in leadership. Links to the virtual programs are available on the NAWJ website.

We are fast approaching the Midyear Meeting in Annapolis Maryland. Our theme, Navigating The Future, will focus on NAWJ governance and leadership opportunities. As a member of NAWJ you can play a critical role in ensuring the organization's growth, development, and sustainability.  At Navigating The Future, we'll consider ways to strengthen the NAWJ infrastructure with interactive workshops and panel discussion. This event is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved to give input to our bylaws, our strategic plan, and other vital governing documents, and the overall operations of NAWJ. We will delve into ways to become more effective as an organization and to make lasting impacts together.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to join us in exploring what our power can do for good- join us for a look at today, tomorrow, and beyond. I look forward to seeing you in Annapolis.

Respectfully Submitted,


Judge Toni E. Clarke, (Ret)
President, NAWJ