Young Woman Graduates Law School, Makes History as First Black Woman Justice at Supreme Court
Kyra Harris Bolden has made history by being sworn in as an associate justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, becoming the youngest and the first Black woman to sit on the state’s high court at 34 years old. As she reflected on her groundbreaking position, Bolden expressed, “I’m so honored and it still feels surreal to be the first Black woman on the highest court because now there are so many boys and girls that have something new to aspire to because they can now see themselves in the position of power.”
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Kyra Harris Bolden has made history by being sworn in as an associate justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, becoming the youngest and the first Black woman to sit on the state’s high court at 34 years old.
Bolden shared, “My family has gone from lynching to law school and from injustice to Capital J, Justice.” She revealed that her decision to attend law school was influenced by the story of her great-grandfather, Jesse Lee Bond, who was lynched in Tennessee in 1939 after seeking a receipt from a store owner. This personal injustice motivated her to pursue a legal career to seek justice for others. I wanted other families to see justice, in a way that my family had not seen justice,” explained Bolden.
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Having started her legal career in various roles including civil litigator, staff attorney, and criminal defense attorney, Bolden was elected to the Michigan House in 2018. Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed her to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2023, highlighting her commitment to fighting for justice for future generations.
As she reflected on her groundbreaking position, Bolden expressed, “I’m so honored and it still feels surreal to be the first Black woman on the highest court because now there are so many boys and girls that have something new to aspire to because they can now see themselves in the position of power.”
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She emphasized the importance of representation, sharing a poignant moment from her college days that highlighted the impact of seeing someone who looked like her in a position of authority. Bolden's mission extends beyond her personal achievements as she runs for re-election to ensure diversity on the bench. She emphasized, "As the first Black woman to ever serve on the Michigan Supreme Court and as the great-granddaughter of a lynching victim, justice is personal. The decisions made by the Supreme Courts have generational impacts."
