Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court

The inspiring and previously untold history of the women considered—but not selected—for the US Supreme Court, "Shortlisted" reveals the professional and personal lives of nine extraordinary women who appeared on presidential lists dating back to the 1930s. The book exposes the tragedy of the shortlist and offers a roadmap to combat enduring bias and discrimination.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

In 1981, a significant milestone was reached when Sandra Day OConnor became the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for gender equality. However, the remarkable stories of the women who were considered for the position before her triumph are often overlooked. Shortlisted delves into the untold tales of nine extraordinary women who were included on presidential lists dating back to the 1930s. Among them was Florence Allen, the first female judge on the highest court in Ohio, who was repeatedly named in those early years. Eight more followed, including Amalya Kearse, a federal appellate judge who was the first African American woman viewed as a potential Supreme Court nominee. Award-winning scholars Renee Knake Jefferson and Hannah Brenner Johnson have skillfully woven together long-forgotten materials from presidential libraries and private archives to shed light on the professional and personal lives of these accomplished women. Beyond filling a notable historical gap, the book also exposes the tragic consequences of the shortlist. By listing and bypassing qualified female candidates, it perpetuates a false appearance of diversity that serves to maintain the status quo, a reality that women, particularly minorities, have faced all too often. Shortlisted provides a valuable roadmap to combat enduring bias and discrimination. It is a must-read for those seeking positions of power as well as for the powerful who select them in the legal profession and beyond.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 230 x 152 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479811960