About this Event
A More Perfect Union: 250 Years of Law, Liberty & the American Promise
FREE COMMUNITY FILM PREMIERE & PANEL DISCUSSION
Join the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan – Great Lakes Bay Region (WLAM-GLBR) for a special community premiere of A More Perfect Union at Saginaw's historic Temple Theatre on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
This free event will feature a screening of the short documentary, followed by a live panel discussion with Michigan judges, featured voices from the film, and the local filmmaker.
Event Details
Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Temple Theatre | Saginaw, Michigan
- 5:30 p.m. – Doors Open
- 6:15 p.m. – Film Screening Begins
- Following the Film – Live Panel Discussion
Admission is FREE and open to the public.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the theater.
Community members, students, educators, legal professionals, and anyone interested in American history, democracy, and the pursuit of justice are encouraged to attend.
Join us for an evening of film, reflection, and community conversation as we explore the progress we've made—and the work that remains—in forming a more perfect union.
Hosted by the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan – Great Lakes Bay Region (WLAM-GLBR).
About the Film
A More Perfect Union: 250 Years of Law, Liberty & the American Promise explores America's ongoing pursuit of its founding ideals through the history and perspectives of women in the judiciary.
Tracing the barriers that once excluded women from the bench and the generations who helped reshape the justice system, the documentary examines the courts' evolving role in American democracy—from the nation's changing understanding of equality and justice to contemporary questions about judicial independence and public trust.
Through historical perspectives and interviews with Michigan judges and justices, including Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, the film reflects on the progress made, the challenges that remain, and the enduring pursuit of a more just and representative democracy.
Produced in collaboration with the National Association of Women Judges, the film invites audiences to consider what it means to continue forming a more perfect union.
Featured Voices in the Film
Hon. Michelle Rick | Michigan Court of Appeals
Elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2020, Judge Rick brings decades of public service experience as a circuit court judge, prosecutor, and legal counsel to Michigan's governor. A leader within NAWJ, she has dedicated her career to judicial education, leadership, and expanding access to justice.
Justice Kyra Harris Bolden | Michigan Supreme Court
Appointed in 2023, Justice Bolden made history as the first Black woman to serve on Michigan's highest court. Her career spans criminal defense, civil litigation, and service in the Michigan House of Representatives, where she championed criminal justice reforms and protections for survivors of violence.
Hon. Mariam Saad Bazzi | Michigan Court of Appeals
Appointed in 2025, Judge Bazzi became the first Arab American Muslim woman to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Her career includes criminal prosecution, judicial leadership, and presiding over a specialized Mental Health Court docket.
Hon. Allie Greenleaf Maldonado | Michigan Court of Appeals
Appointed in 2023, Judge Maldonado became the first citizen of a federally recognized tribe to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals. A citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and member of the Turtle Clan, she has a career that includes advocacy for tribal interests and service with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Following the Film: A Community Conversation
Following the screening, join us for a live panel discussion featuring judges from the documentary, the film's narrator, and its director.
Expected panel participants include:
- Hon. Michelle Rick – Michigan Court of Appeals
- Hon. Mariam Saad Bazzi – Michigan Court of Appeals
- Hon. Allie Greenleaf Maldonado – Michigan Court of Appeals
- Zenell Brown – Film Narrator
- Laura E. Swanson – Director & Producer
Together, panelists will reflect on the film's themes, their professional experiences, the evolving role of the judiciary, and the importance of public trust and representation in American democracy.
For more information about NAWJ, please visit: https://www.nawj.org/
For more information on Creative Embers & the Film, please visit: https://www.creativeembersnonprofit.org/a-more-perfect-union
https://vimeo.com/1225900710
Event venue & nearby stays
Temple Theatre, 201 North Washington Avenue, Saginaw, United States
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