Both at home and abroad the rule of law and the judiciary are facing unprecedented attacks. These attacks on the independence of the judiciary have sparked an alarming rise in threats against judges and their families, with women judges in particular facing heightened risks of physical violence and intimidation. Join us as we honor the women judges who continue to uphold justice for all, demonstrating courage, integrity, and unwavering commitment, regardless of who appointed them or how their rulings are received.
Opening Remarks:
Muhammad U. Faridi, President, New York City Bar Association
Keynote Speaker:
The Honorable Esther Salas, United States District Court Judge
Speakers:
Sophia Murashkovsky Romma, Chair, United Nations Committee
Catherine van Kampen, Program Chair, United Nations Committee
Preethi Krishnamurthy, Partner, Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP
Stephanie Amin-Giwner, Director of Client Services, Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions
Liz Lambert, Senior Managing Director, The Huntington National Bank
Moderator:
The Honorable Linda Strite Murnane, Colonel, USAF, Ret., Retired Associate Justice, High Court, Republic of the Marshall IslandsPanelists:
Honorable Ayala Henderson, Chief Judge, San Manuel Tribal Court
Honorable Michelle Rick, Justice, Michigan Court of Appeals
Honorable Pamela Washington, President, National Association of Women Judges
Sponsoring Committee:
United Nations, Sophia Murashkovsky, Chair
Co-Sponsoring Committees:
The Council on International Affairs, Margaret E. McGuinness, Chair
European Affairs Committee, Katherine Gonzalez and Rafael Carmona, Co-Chairs
African Affairs Committee, Melissa Marie Verpile, Chair
Task Force on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges, Mathew Diller, Chair
Business & Human Rights Committee, Isabelle Glimcher and Isedua Oribhabor, Co-Chairs
Federal Courts Committee, Jonathan New, Chair
Judiciary Committee, Danielle C. Lesser, Chair
Council on Judicial Administration, James P. Chou, Chair
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Rights Committee, Hayley Gorenberg and Jared M. Trujillo, Co-Chairs
Litigation Committee, Cassandra L. Porsch, Chair
Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, Jerome Walker, Lorraine McGowen and Tiffany J. Smith, Co-Chairs
Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee, Dara L. Sheinfeld and Hamra Ahmad, Co-Chairs
Professional Responsibility Committee, Kristie Blase, Chair
Sex & Law Committee, Natalie R. Birnbaum and Susan E. Cersovsky, Co-Chairs
Vance Center for International Justice Committee, Lorraine McGowen and Werner F. Ahlers, Co-Chairs
Women in the Legal Profession Committee, Francesca Fulchignoni and Tracy A. Burnett, Co-Chairs
Co-sponsoring Organizations:
American Bar Association
Female Advocacy Foundation International
Garden of the Avant-Garde Film Productions, Inc.
New Jersey State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
International Caribbean Women Alliance for Empowerment (ICWAE)
Women in Securities Litigation Network
2026 Honorees
Christine A. Amalfe
Paulette Brown
Tarana Burke
Yolanthe Cabau
A. Nikki Borchardt Campbell
Professor Phyllis Chesler
Yveline L. Dalmacy
Cecilie Fjellhøy
Fatima Goss Graves
Honorable Yvette A. Ayala Henderson
Lauren Hersh
Brianne Joseph
Tatiana Kotlyarenko
Robin Morgan
Sonia Ossorio
Monica Ramirez
Anne K. Ream
Honorable Michelle Rick
Professor Sophia Murashkovsky Romma
Honorable Esther Salas
Lucy Simpson
Mary Smith
Kathleen Marie Sweet
Honorable Brenda Toineeta-Pipestem
Yasmin Vafa
Ambassador Melanne Verveer
Honorable Pamela Washington
Lissa Yellowbird-Chase
Thank you to our sponsors!