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Maryland sees rise in women judges
September 30, 2012
Baltimore, Maryland: According to Maryland Judiciary data, there is a reported rise in women who are becoming judges. In the state of Maryland, of the total 280 judges, 38.2 percent (107) of them are women, this being compared to the 99 (36.1 percent) of 274 judges as of July 1, 2011. [1]
Though these statistics are far short of half, they remain much better than the national state court average percent of 27.5, this according to a report done by the State University of New York at Albany's Center for Women in Government & Civil Society.[1]
Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley has made 102 judicial appointments since his taking office in January of 2007, and 45.1 percent (46) of these judicial appointments have been women. This is an increase since September of 2011.[1]
Many have called this historical progress, while others have labeled it a good start, but no matter how it is called, some judges who are women still feel there are some instances of sexism in the courts. "Women can't stop standing up for themselves. Times really haven't changed," stated Maryland First District Judge Shannon E. Avery, who sited moments such as when male attorneys are addressed as "counselors" and women are addressed as "ma'am" in state courtrooms.[1]
Judge Avery urges her female colleagues on the bench to help serve as mentors to young women when they may experience subtle sexism, this perhaps being told a pantsuit is inappropriate or other such discrimination.[1]
"Young women do encounter a rude awakening, and I am concerned that they don't have anywhere to go or anyone to go to," Judge Avery voiced with concern.[1]
Other women judges do not really recall any rude treatment during their years on the bench, and retired Judge Irma Raker, who became the second woman to ever serve on the Maryland Court of Appeals, can attest to this.[1]
"By '94, even though when I went on the court it was all male, the judiciary was used to women, and having a woman was just not anything particularly remarkable. I really did not see any adverse treatment within the judiciary based on gender," said Judge Raker, who, in 2008, reached the court's mandatory retirement age of 70.[1]
In her description of her treatment on the bench, Judge Raker quoted a line attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "a wise old man and a wise old woman will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases," and in Judge Raker's mind, gender diversity on the bench, "brings different life experiences and perspectives that really enrich the decision-making process."[1]
Judge Raker recounted that is wasn't always that easy and before coming to the bench, she was a state attorney.[1]
"I saw a lot of tight jaws" from the officers who believed "criminal law was just too dirty for women," Judge Raker commented. However, when officers would question her on the arrival of the state attorney, Judge Raker would respond to them, "I'm him."[1]
In Judge Raker's opinion, "That was more challenging than going on to the Court of Appeals with six males and me."[1]
While women have gone on to keep raising the bar in a world where sexism still sometimes persist to exist, Maryland's women judges feel they have an obligation to the generation now coming out of law school. Judge Marcella A. Holland feels that this coming generation is unaware of the times when arguing in front of a female judge was actually a rarity.[1]
"My concern is the younger women; they don't know their history. If you don't know your history, you're bound to repeat it. Part of our job is to give these young women a positive role model...to follow in our footsteps."[1]
See also
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