The Judge

Judge Kholoud Al-Faqih became the first female appointed to any of the Middle East’s Shari’a courts in 2009, challenging longstanding traditions and customs regarding women’s roles in society. Constantly battling controversy over her position, Al-Faqih offers guidance, mentorship, and support both in and outside the courts. In this intimate portrait, “we get to see Al-Faqih in her office-like courtroom, revealing slices of judicial life shot unobtrusively by cinematographer Amber Fares using small cameras on the order of GoPros and DSLRs” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times). Director Erika Cohn captures the determined and compassionate judge as she strives to achieve justice in a system that so often does not favor women.