Reshaping Court’s Culture, a Woman at a Time

[groovedaddy]

WASHINGTON — In her confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1993, Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg predicted that she would eventually be one of “three, four, perhaps even more women on the high court bench.”

It took 17 years, a step back (Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was succeeded by Samuel A. Alito Jr. in 2006) and a good bit of public frustration voiced by Justice. O’Connor, Justice Ginsburg and others.

But President Obama’s nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan on Monday to succeed the retiring Justice John Paul Stevens — following his nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor last year to succeed Justice David H. Souter — means there could now be three women on the court for the first time in history.

It was a benchmark that women’s law groups celebrated as a major step toward a sex parity that has eluded the United States Supreme Court compared with the highest courts of several states and countries.

“Even when you had two women, there was still a sense that they were exceptions to the rule,” said Marcia Greenberger, the co-president of the National Women’s Law Center.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/us/politics/11women.html?th&emc=th

[Bitwit1234]

1. Woman make up the majority

of people in this country. WHY aren't the more represented in all phases of politics and everything else. I really truly think that some men are jealous of women. That's why they try to hold them down.

Men have ruled in this country for so damn long and screwed it to Hades and back, I think if we had more woman, with their insight, their compassion and their intelligence we might make this a better country.

AND THERE ARE A HECK OF A LOT OF MEN OUT THERE WHO BELIEVE THIS ALSO.

[groovedaddy]

3. Sexism and racism are slow to die but I do believe they're fading away. n.t

[zipplewrath]

2. The best part of this appointment

I don't find alot of reason to be excited about this appointment. But at the very least, we are approaching some reasonable balance on the court in terms of gender. Still kind white, but otherwise.