National Judicial Outreach Week

The first ever National Judicial Outreach Week (NJOW) took place March 5-11, 2017 and has since taken place each March 1-10.  Every year, our theme is “Preserving the Rule of Law.”

Each day, more than 30,000 judges throughout America ensure that our nation continues to be ruled by laws and that everyone is equal before the law. Our courts must apply our laws fairly and impartially and not be influenced by the “ill humors” of popular, partisan, and special interests.  One of the most effective ways to promote public understanding and commitment to preserving the Rule of Law is for the public to meet the dedicated public servants who are America’s judges and to appreciate their unwavering commitment to fairness, impartiality, and the rule of law.

2023 Participation

The ABA Judicial Division’s Judicial Outreach Network Committee urges active and retired judges to invite their communities to their courthouses and to go out into their communities during National Judicial Outreach Week 2023 to meet with the public, in person or virtually, and talk about the Rule of Law and the work courts do every day.  

The Judicial Outreach Network prepared a National Judicial Outreach Week Information Packet that explains the how and why of Judicial Outreach Week.  The Judicial Outreach Network also developed a concise PowerPoint presentation entitled Preserving the Rule of Law (Judicial Version) (ALJ Version) and Speaker Notes that you can use or adapt to your own style and preferences. The presentation has been carefully crafted to provide an understandable description of the Rule of Law and to foster discussion between speakers and audiences.  

Please also refer to the NJOW template phone script and template letter as part of our NJOW toolkit resources to recruit additional participants. 

Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators pass joint resolution supporting Judicial Division's National Judicial Outreach Week.

2019 CCJ/COSCA Resolution 
2020 CCJ Resolution 

Please Report Your NJOW Presentations to the Judicial Division!

Please send this completed form to JON staff liaison Kris Berliant, [email protected], so we can keep track of your NJOW presentations and progress taking place around the country. (Online Report Form)