Trailblazing Women: Female Supreme Court Justices Who Shaped History

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of the countless women who have shaped the course of history.  In the legal world, the Supreme Court is the pinnacle of the judiciary, and the six women who have served as Supreme Court Justices have played a major part in the Court’s evolution.  As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s take a moment to honor their legacies and celebrate their invaluable contributions to the Court.

Sandra Day O’Connor

Appointed to the Court in 1981 by Ronald Reagan, Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman ever elected to the highest court In the Land.  O’Connor was appointed to the Court in a 99-0 vote, showcasing the country’s readiness for a female Supreme Court Justice.  During her 25 years on the Court, O’Connor defied politics and was a crucial swing vote in many landmark cases such as Planned Parenthood v. Casey and Grutter v. Bollinger.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Often considered one of the biggest women’s rights champions in history, Ruth Bader Ginsburg assumed her position on the Court already a fierce advocate for gender equality.  She was appointed in 1993 by Bill Clinton and served 27 years until her death in 2020.  During Ginsburg’s time on the Court, she was known as a consensus builder, working with the conservative bloc to advocate for the rights of women and minorities.

Sonia Sotomayor

As the third female Supreme Court Justice and first Latina Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor became a powerful advocate for marginalized communities, serving as a voice for the underserved.  Sotomayor was appointed in 2009 by Barack Obama and is the longest-serving female Justice currently on the Supreme Court.  Her background as a trial judge has driven her passionate defense of the rights of defendants and pursuit of criminal justice system reform.

Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan was the second female Supreme Court Justice appointed by Barack Obama in 2010, filling the seat of John Paul Stevens.  Fresh off of her appointment as the first female solicitor general of the United States, Kagan strengthened the Court’s liberal bloc with a rigorous intellect and a focus on consensus-building.  She wrote majority opinions on landmark cases such as Cooper v. Harris and Kisor v. Wilkie while writing notable dissents in cases such as West Virginia v. EPA.

Amy Coney Barrett

Appointed by Donald Trump in 2020, Justice Amy Coney Barrett filled the seat left vacant after the death of Justice Ginsburg.  As a conservative justice, Barrett has played a major role in shaping decisions on issues regarding healthcare, religious liberty, and reproductive rights.  In her time on the court thus far, Barrett has pursued an originalist judicial philosophy heavily inspired by Antonin Scalia, a previous member of the Court’s conservative bloc.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson is the latest addition to the court and the only Justice appointed by Joe Biden.  After being appointed in 2022, Jackson became a vital member of the Court’s liberal bloc and the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.  Jackson has brought to the Court a wealth of experience as a public defender, district judge, and a member of the US Sentencing Commission, making her a prominent voice of the rights of the accused.

Honoring Their Legacy

While these six women are the first in the line of female Supreme Court Justices, they represent only the beginning of women’s impact on the Highest Court In the Land.  Due to their intelligence, courage, and fearless service to their country, these women have paved the way for countless others to come.