Creating Diversity
The increasing amount of women on the bench has been in response to the need to diversify the courts to make them closer to actually populations. It is thought that if they diversify the courts, then there will be more just decisions because everyone will be represented. Also, that the public will believe the decisions are more fair because they will feel represented on the courts. This is the same with minorities. This is meant to create trust in the institution of the criminal justice system. In 2005, women represented 27% of state supreme court justices. This is continuing to rise as politicians are aiming for a more diversified court. One very recent example of an appointment that is meant to help diversify the courts was with the appointment to the Supreme Court of Sonia Sotamayor. She is not only a female, but also the first hispanic to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
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