Michigan Court of Appeals judge takes on national leadership role
The Hon. Michelle Rick, who serves on the Michigan Court of Appeals representing the 4th Judicial District, has been named the 44th President of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ). Rick, whose presidential term began in November 2024, is recognized as a Fellow of both the Michigan State Bar Foundation and the American Bar Foundation. She also teaches “Access to Justice” at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School, a course that inspired her presidential theme: “Access to Justice is Justice for All.”
In March 2025, Rick hosted the NAWJ midyear conference at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor. The event, held from March 20 to 22, centered on the theme “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.” Distinguished speakers included (former) Chief Justice Beth Clement, Justice Brian Zahra, Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh, Justice Elizabeth Welch, and ABA President Bill Barr, a University of Michigan Law School alumnus.
Justice Welch welcomed judicial attendees from across the country, while Chief Justice Cavanagh led a panel on the restorative impact of specialty courts. Rick interviewed former Chief Justice Clement and Justice for All Committee Co-Chair Justice Zahra, who discussed the Commission’s efforts to close the access to justice gap through regulatory reforms and innovative solutions. Justice Clement emphasized the essential role of courts in fostering public confidence in the judiciary. Attendees valued the opportunity to hear from these leaders and observe their commitment to advancing access to justice.
The conference featured sessions on compassionate judging, the restorative nature of specialty courts, the use of AI to assist self-represented litigants, the impact of incarceration on families, and best practices and ethics for transitioning from the bench to alternative dispute resolution. The event aimed to inspire judges to develop creative solutions to the growing civil justice gap. Rick remarked, “Ensuring equal justice for all is vital. The justice gap affects seniors, veterans, members of rural communities, the poor, the un-homed, and returning citizens. We must all do our part to eradicate the civil justice gap.”
Rick’s term as president of NAWJ ends in October at NAWJ’s annual conference. The conference takes place October 23 – 25 in historic Boston. The theme of the conference is “Where Women Lead.”
In March 2025, Rick hosted the NAWJ midyear conference at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor. The event, held from March 20 to 22, centered on the theme “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.” Distinguished speakers included (former) Chief Justice Beth Clement, Justice Brian Zahra, Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh, Justice Elizabeth Welch, and ABA President Bill Barr, a University of Michigan Law School alumnus.
Justice Welch welcomed judicial attendees from across the country, while Chief Justice Cavanagh led a panel on the restorative impact of specialty courts. Rick interviewed former Chief Justice Clement and Justice for All Committee Co-Chair Justice Zahra, who discussed the Commission’s efforts to close the access to justice gap through regulatory reforms and innovative solutions. Justice Clement emphasized the essential role of courts in fostering public confidence in the judiciary. Attendees valued the opportunity to hear from these leaders and observe their commitment to advancing access to justice.
The conference featured sessions on compassionate judging, the restorative nature of specialty courts, the use of AI to assist self-represented litigants, the impact of incarceration on families, and best practices and ethics for transitioning from the bench to alternative dispute resolution. The event aimed to inspire judges to develop creative solutions to the growing civil justice gap. Rick remarked, “Ensuring equal justice for all is vital. The justice gap affects seniors, veterans, members of rural communities, the poor, the un-homed, and returning citizens. We must all do our part to eradicate the civil justice gap.”
Rick’s term as president of NAWJ ends in October at NAWJ’s annual conference. The conference takes place October 23 – 25 in historic Boston. The theme of the conference is “Where Women Lead.”
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