Book contents
- Race, Gender, Sexuality, and the Politics of the American Judiciary
- Race, Gender, Sexuality, and the Politics of the American Judiciary
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Qualification, Selection, and Retirement Characteristics of Women, Minorities, and Minority-Women State Supreme Court Judges
- 2 Latinas and the Texas Judiciary
- 3 Structural and Partisan Effects on the Ascension of Women of Color to State Appellate Courts
- 4 LGBT Judges in the United States
- 5 Race, Gender, and the Battle to Seat Constance Baker Motley, the First Black Woman Appointed to the Federal Bench
- 6 Diversity Abound
- 7 Marked for Excellence
- 8 Navigating Rising to the Top: Justice Sotomayor
- Concluding Remarks
- Index
- References
6 - Diversity Abound
Will Federal Judicial Appointees Mirror a Changing Citizenry?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 November 2018
Book contents
- Race, Gender, Sexuality, and the Politics of the American Judiciary
- Race, Gender, Sexuality, and the Politics of the American Judiciary
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Qualification, Selection, and Retirement Characteristics of Women, Minorities, and Minority-Women State Supreme Court Judges
- 2 Latinas and the Texas Judiciary
- 3 Structural and Partisan Effects on the Ascension of Women of Color to State Appellate Courts
- 4 LGBT Judges in the United States
- 5 Race, Gender, and the Battle to Seat Constance Baker Motley, the First Black Woman Appointed to the Federal Bench
- 6 Diversity Abound
- 7 Marked for Excellence
- 8 Navigating Rising to the Top: Justice Sotomayor
- Concluding Remarks
- Index
- References
Summary
Enita Brazelton and LaTasha Chaffin examine whether diversity at the federal level mirrors changes in the citizenry. As the US population diversifies, will the federal courts be representative? What determinants lead African American and Latina women to be nominated and confirmed to the federal judiciary? Using the Federal Judicial Center database, this study qualitatively examines the demographic, political, and economic determinants that influence the appointments of African American and Latina women to the district and circuit courts since the Carter administration. Brazelton and Chaffin interview African American and Latina women judges who have earned senior status, to assess their perceptions of the changing diversity of federal judgeships. They anticipate that changing demographics and socioeconomic status will impact the ascent of Latina women to the federal bench. Political mobilization will impact the ascent of African American women to the federal bench and interest group pressure will influence both.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2018
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