The Women of Inspiration™ Podcast with host Monica Kretschmer, Founder & CEO of the Universal Womens Network™, shines the spotlight on inspiring female CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, change-makers, and visionaries making an impact locally, nationally, and globally who lead, inspire and motivate.
Today’s guest is The Honorable Judge Rosemarie Aquilina — an active Michigan Circuit Court Judge serving on the 30th Judicial Circuit Court in Ingham County, and one of a small number of female judges in the United States who have made history from the bench. Judge Aquilina is a woman whose name is synonymous with courage and justice.
She gained international recognition for her landmark sentencing of Larry Nassar, where she gave a voice to hundreds of women who had been silenced for far too long. Her words — “I just signed your death warrant” — echoed around the world and became a defining moment in the fight for accountability, advocacy, and women’s empowerment.
Beyond the headlines, Judge Aquilina is a single mother, author, advocate, and mentor whose leadership continues to inspire women in law and beyond. Her new book, Speak Up, is a rallying cry for women to find their voice, claim their power, and own their success. This episode is personal.
When I met Judge Aquilina a year ago, our conversation was raw and real. When I shared my own story — 22 days of trial and over 4,800 hours of litigation — she was stunned, but deeply understanding. As a judge who once practiced and presided over Family Law, she knows firsthand how the system impacts women and families. We both agreed — we need more female voices on the bench, especially in cases that require empathy, lived experience, and emotional intelligence.
Today, we’ll dive into her remarkable career, the lasting impact of her sentencing in the Nassar case, her advocacy for women’s confidence and truth, and her perspective on why representation in justice — particularly in family law — should be a requirement, not an exception.
Get ready to be inspired!
Learn more: https://www.inghambar.org/member/raquilinaingham-org/
Learn More: www.universalwomensnetwork.com