Supreme Court

Women of the Missouri Court: First Event to feature the only four women who have served on the Missouri Supreme Court

SDevlin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:51:20 -0600

In all of Missouri’s history, only four women have served on the state Supreme Court. The Women’s Law Association (WLA) at the University of Missouri School of Law hosted the first event ever to feature and honor these four women. On Wednesday November 12, 2008 Judge Ann Covington, Judge Mary Russell, Judge Patricia Breckenridge, and current Justice Laura Stith sat on a panel together at the Law School to discuss the journey women have in the legal profession and future progress.

The judges spoke for over an hour to a courtroom packed with law students and professors. In all the years of statehood, Missouri has only had four women sit on its highest court. Yet, all four of those women have been in my lifetime. That has to provide tremendous hope and aspiration to young female attorneys and law students. All four women attribute the newfound diversity in the state's judiciary to the Missouri Court Plan, a nonpartisan system of appointing judges, rather than by political appointment or election.

Ms. JD Summer Book Series: Sandra Day O'Connor, By: Joan Biskupic

Ms. JD Summer Book Series — Sun, 8 Jun 2008 14:39:46 -0500

Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice, By: Joan Biskupic

In this biography of Sandra Day O'Connor, author Joan Biskupic takes the reader through the life of O'Connor, from her early days on the Lazy B Ranch through her time on the Supreme Court. Biskupic portrays O'Connor as a sharp-witted, intelligent, and lively member of the Supreme Court.

As a longtime court observer and journalist, Biskpuic is able to reveal much about O'Connor's life due to the use of the justices' once private papers. The author specifically pays attention to O'Connor as the first female justice on the Supreme Court. In one anecdote, Biskupic recounts a story of when the Supreme Court Justices were discussing a case. During the discussion, Justice Scalia spoke out against affirmative action. O'Connor replied: "Why, Nino, how do you think I got my job?

Remarks by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg [Clippings]

Anna — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:09:28 -0500

Lily has written a pair of blog posts recounting a reception and CLE course that she attended with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this week. Read about Justice Ginsburg's remarks here and here [Owens Rhetoric via Blawg's Blog].

Mentoring --> Sisterhood --> Supreme Court?

Whitney Hill — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 12:40:04 -0500

I cannot help but wish that three or four more women were sitting on the US Supreme Court. This will happen. A clutch of women Supreme Court Justices would be very visible role models, but until then we can celebrate the women lawyers who are federal judges, state supreme court judges, civil rights lawyers, politicians, and partners in law firms. I think that the power and influence of positive role models cannot be understated. In that vein, a woman in the legal profession needs a mentor to give wisdom in the form of cautionary tales, guidance and advice.

Supreme Court Builds Barrier to Equal Pay for Women

Chicana — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:25:55 -0500

Another barrier has just been built as 5 men on the US Supreme Court (guess who?!) have ruled against a woman's pay discrimination claim. While I have not been able to read the opinion, the article clearly indicates that the majority author of the opinion, Alito, would like to find any way possible to deny relief to the woman, citing her failure to file a grievance after each and every paycheck. Ginsberg's heated dissent is right on point and fires back at the all male majority. I think people, including many women and this Supreme Court are far too quick to ignore discrimination against women or simply justify the inequities in the workplace. Frankly, it pisses me off!

Read more about the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. decision [links to New York Times].