Judge Rosemarie Aquilina as Chairperson brings a distinguished addition to the Jackie Kallen Foundation advisory board, bringing a lifelong commitment to empowerment, justice, and the restoration of voice to the vulnerable.
Professional Background
- Judicial Career: She serves as a judge for the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, Michigan, a position she has held since 2009. Previously, she served for four years as a 55th District Court Judge, where she was both a Chief Judge and a Sobriety Court Judge.
- Military Service: Judge Aquilina retired as a Major after 20 years of honorable service in the Michigan Army National Guard. She made history as the state’s first female Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer.
- Legal Advocacy: Prior to her judicial career, she was a successful attorney for 16 years and served as an administrative assistant to State Senator John F. Kelly for a decade.
Advocacy & Impact
- Champion for Survivors: She gained international recognition for presiding over the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal, where she famously allowed over 150 survivors to provide personal testimony, emphasizing the essential power of victims having a voice.
- Founder & Author: Beyond the bench, she is an accomplished author of fiction and nonfiction. She founded Warriors Affirmations, a project producing motivational items for survivors of all types of trauma, and the Mid-Michigan Treatment Courts Foundation.
- Educator: As an adjunct professor at Cooley Law School and Michigan State University College of Law, she has taught numerous courses, including Family Law and Defending Battered Women.
Foundation Mission
On the Jackie Kallen Foundation advisory board, Judge Aquilina leverages her extensive experience in female leadership and social activism to support the organization’s mission of providing mentorship and “fighting chances” to those overcoming significant life obstacles.