Judges & the Courts

Statue of Justice

Women and Our Courts

Despite record numbers of female judicial nominees, the percentage of female federal judges, however, is far lower. 

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Supreme Court of the United States

Supreme Court Term

Learn more about a number of cases that the Supreme Court will hear in its new 2013-2014 Term could have a significant impact on women's legal rights. 

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Women and Our Courts
Supreme Court Term

Highlights

Fact Sheet | Supreme Court Preview: 2013-2014 Term

October 2, 2013
During the 2013-2014 Term, the Supreme Court will review several cases that concern legal rights of importance to women—including access to abortion, equal opportunity in education, protection against housing discrimination, and the ability to use the Equal Protection Clause to challenge discrimination in public employment. In addition, the Court will review an important case involving the President’s ability to fill vacancies on a body that protects workers. Finally, the Court may decide whether for-profit businesses can refuse to provide employee insurance coverage for contraceptives based on asserted religious objections. The decisions in these cases may have a significant impact on women’s rights in all of these important arenas.
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Fact Sheet | Supreme Court Review: 2012-2013 Term

July 10, 2013

The 2012-2013 Supreme Court Term witnessed a number of blockbuster cases affecting women’s rights, from affirmative action to workplace protections to voting rights to marriage equality. The results in those cases were decidedly mixed, with some historic victories, but also, unfortunately, heartbreaking setbacks. The National Women’s Law Center participated in most of these cases. This fact sheet explains key cases and the potential impacts of their decisions.

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Fact Sheet | The Vacancy Crisis in the Federal Judiciary: What's at Stake for Women

August 2, 2013

There are currently 86 vacancies on the federal district and appellate courts, a ten percent vacancy rate. This alarmingly high vacancy rate forces people around the country to wait for justice. 

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Fact Sheet | Women in the Federal Judiciary: Still A Long Way to Go

August 2, 2013

Over the past three decades, an increasing number of women have joined the legal profession.  Since 1992, women’s representation in law school classes has approached 50%. Despite record numbers of female judicial nominees, the percentage of female federal judges, however, is far lower. It is of critical importance to increase the representation of women on the federal bench.

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More Resources

Legal Briefs & Testimony | Petition for Rehearing: Mary Lou Mikula v. Allegheny County of Pennsylvania

April 07, 2009
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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Amicus Brief: Frank Ricci, et al. v. John Destefano, et al.

March 25, 2009
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Fact Sheet | The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

March 15, 2009
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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Amicus Brief: Cochran v. Kentucky

February 24, 2009
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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Amicus Brief: Arezou Mansourian v. Regents of the University of California

February 20, 2009

In this brief, the National Women’s Law Center urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to hold that a plaintiff does not need to show deliberate indifference when bringing a Title IX claim based on sex-discrimination in athletics, since the alleged discrimination involves an official school policy.  The Ninth Circuit, in its 2010 decision in Mansourian v. Regents of the University of California, agreed, holding that schools’ and universities’ decisions with respect to athletics are by definition “intentional.”

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