February 2023 President's Letter

The past month has been busy. I had an opportunity to meet with The Conference of Chief Justices’ Engagement, Trust & Confidence Committee, and the Judicial Division of the Federal Bar Association. Both meetings provided an excellent opportunity for an exchange of ideas and to explore opportunities for collaboration. We will work on some collaborations moving forward. As part of the collaboration efforts, On February 22, 2023, I will represent NAWJ on a panel of the Judicial Division of the Federal Bar Association’s Black History Month Program, Pathways to the Bench.

On February 15, 2023, NAW will present its Black History Month Program the presentation of the play Full Truth - A play set in 1952 to 1955, highlighting the strategy employed by Thurgood Marshall and his team as they prepared for the hearings before the U.S. Supreme Court on the five cases consolidated into Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas. It promises to be an enlightening presentation and discussion to follow.

On January 24, 2023 NAWJ, in conjunction with IAWJ, presented the program Afghan Lawyers & Judges: The Stark Realities… Then and Now, as part of the International Day of The Endangered Lawyer, which this year included Judges. Our contribution to this global event highlighted for us, and the world, the plight of the Afghan Women Judges following the collapse of Afghanistan. We had 129 registered attendees from all over the country and the world. The Herculean efforts of NAWJ and IAWJ members, too many to name here, and the bravery of the Afghan Women Judges in the face of life-threatening danger is unparalleled. It was recorded and is now on our website, in case you missed it.

This program brought home for me what happens when democracy and the rule of law fail. We see every day how fragile both are in this Country. We must be vigilant to preserving democracy and the rule of law in our every lives.

Registration for the mid-year governance and leadership meeting is now open. Any member who is interested in NAWJ leadership and governance issues is welcome to attend. I hope you will consider joining me in Annapolis, Maryland, April 20-22, 2023.

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