Executive Director's Message

in a way that hasn’t been political. And it has clearly given visibility, nationally, to the NAWJ. Judge Loftin explained that without the creation of the Color of Justice Manual, this program might never have expanded. “If we hadn’t documented it, I don’t think anyone would have really known what we had accomplished.”

One particular highlight was at the program’s ten-year anniversary. At the prompting of then-NAWJ President Judge Amy Nechtem, Judge Loftin and Judge Nechtem decided to reach out to the Native American community at the Native American reservation in Bemidji, Minnesota. Alongside the leadership of Judge Renee Worke, they invited Native American high schoolers to the Minnesota State Appellate Court for a Color of Justice presentation. It was an enormous success.

Today, the program encourages participants to consider the law and judgeships as career

want to express my gratitude to the Search

Committee and many others who provided support as I begin my tenure as your permanent Executive Director. Because we are in this journey together, I am sharing my vision statement and I am excited to be walking along side you.

Being the voice of women in the judiciary is the notable legacy of the National Association of Women Judges. For more than forty years NAWJ has been the United States’ leading advocate and educator for women on the bench and seeking the bench. The organization’s success derives from the diversity of its members; racially, geographically, goals. It focuses on career preparation, offers panel discussions with judges and lawyers sharing personal and professional insights, and enables small group discussions during box luncheons. The program provides an environment where discussion and debate among participants can flourish. Members of the NAWJ are encouraged to present this program on Law Day, or at another convenient time. The Color of Justice program is a wonderful opportunity to become involved in the community and at the same time broaden the visibility of our organization. We thank Judge Loftin for creating this incredible program that has touched so many, and all those NAWJ judges over the past 20 years that have brought the Color of Justice program to their state. This is an example of NAWJ at its best, offering NAWJ judge members a chance to have a lasting impact on their communities and the legal profession.

Vice President of Publication

Judge Tsankov is the Eastern Region Vice President of the National Association of Immigration Judges. The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the official position of the United States Department of Justice, the Attorney General, or the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The views represent the author’s personal opinions.

and professionally. NAWJ has adjusted, evolved, and expanded its influence on wide-ranging issues such as voter education, equal access to justice, women in prison, elder abuse, the opioid crisis, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and human trafficking,

New challenges emerged in 2020 that have brought disruption in the courts: the COVID 19 pandemic, and troubling cultural and civil unrest, including the amplification of racial tensions and inequalities. Through the pandemic, our members have been unable to meet together in person. NAWJ demonstrated agility in pivoting within a few weeks to virtual meetings, and from operating in the office on local servers to opervating remotely in the cloud. Moving to remote