State Representative Kyra Harris Bolden has been appointed to be the next justice on Michigan’s Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman and youngest member to fill the seat.
In September, Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, a Democratic nominee, announced she would resign from the court to fulfill the role of CEO at the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution New York location, according to The Detroit News. After considering potential candidates to supersede McCormack, Governor Gretchen Whitmer landed on the vibrant Bolden who has a bright future ahead of her. The new justice celebrated with a post on her Instagram.
When Whitmer made the announcement, she shared that the Southfield native is a “passionate” lawmaker. The 34-year-old is a Democrat, which helps sustain the court being a majority of Democrats, who held the lead in this month’s election. Since justices can run for reelection until they are 69, Bolden could hold the seat for nearly four decades. The governor is very confident that she picked the right candidate for the job.
“She will bring a unique perspective to our high court as a Black woman — and as a new, working mom — that has too long been left out,” Whitmer said. “Kyra is committed to fighting for justice for generations, and I know she will serve Michigan admirably, building a brighter future for her newborn daughter and all our kids.”
Bolden studied law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. And in 2018, she was elected to the state House for the first time and is a current member of the House judiciary and insurance committees. Before serving in the House, she worked as a lawyer at Lewis & Munday P.C. in Detroit. In her role, she was a staff attorney for Judge John Murphy in Wayne County Circuit Court and a criminal defense attorney for district court in her hometown of Southfield.
This wasn’t Bolden’s first shot for a seat on Michigan’s Supreme Court. She was a Democratic nominee for two seats during the recent Nov. 8 election. The final result was a close loss to Republican-nominee Justice Brian Zahra, as she received 22% of the vote and he got 24%. The other Democrat nominee finished in first place with 34% of the votes. So, it’s safe to say this seat on the court was a long time coming for the ambitious congresswoman.
“I am incredibly honored to be chosen by Gov. Whitmer for this appointment to the Michigan Supreme Court,” Bolden said. “I will ensure equal access to justice, apply the law without fear or favor, and treat all who come before our state’s highest court with dignity and respect.”
If she wants to remain in the seat after serving her partial term until noon on Jan. 1, 2025, she’ll have to run in the November 2024 general election. If she wins, she will complete the rest of McCormack’s term, which expires on Jan. 1, 2029.
John Johnson Jr., executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, feels Whitmer’s decision to nominate Bolden is a groundbreaking moment for the state of Michigan.
“As the first Black woman to serve in that capacity, she will bring a long-missing perspective to the deliberations of the state’s highest court,” Johnson said in a statement. “That alone makes this a monumental decision, but Ms. Bolden brings more to the table than her racial identity.”