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 | Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment: Jennifer Erickson v. The Bartell Drug Company

June 12, 2001
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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Amicus Brief: Deborah Gleason v. Board of Trustees at Salem State College

September 01, 2000
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Reports & Toolkits | Righting the Wrongs: Supreme Court Update

July 15, 1998

This factsheet summarizes three of the Supreme Court’s cases involving sexual harassment under Title IX (education) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (employment).  In Gesber v. Lago Vista Independent School District, the Court addressed the issue of when a school district can be held liable for compensatory damages under Title IX, and in Faragher v. City of Boca Raton and Burlington Industries v. Ellerth, the Court clarified the standard of employer liability under Title VII for supervisor-to-employee harassment. 

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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Brief for the Petitioner: Davis vs. Monroe Country Board of Education

June 09, 1998

In this brief before the Supreme Court, the National Women’s Law Center argued that Title IX covers student-on-student sexual harassment in schools and that LaShonda Davis stated a claim for relief under Title IX based on the five months of harassment that she endured as a fifth grader, when a fellow student repeatedly attempted to touch her breasts and vaginal area, and told her in vulgar terms that he wanted to touch her and have sex with her.  In its 1999 decision in Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education, the Supreme Court agreed that Title IX covers student-on-student sexual harassment, and that LaShonda could pursue her claim against her school district for failing to adequately respond to her complaints about the harassment. 

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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Amicus Brief: Neal v California State University

September 27, 1996
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