In a historic victory for Michigan, Justice Kyra Harris Bolden has made her mark as the first Black woman ever elected to the state’s Supreme Court.
Bolden, who was appointed to the bench in 2022 by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, won her seat in November 2024, following her remarkable journey from state legislator to top jurist.
At just 36, Bolden’s achievements are nothing short of groundbreaking.
She is not only the first Black woman to serve on Michigan’s Supreme Court but also the youngest to ever hold this prestigious position.
Her election underscores a continuing legacy of women in Michigan’s highest court, where five of the seven justices will now be women, including Kimberly Ann Thomas, who joins Bolden in January.
Bolden’s path to the Supreme Court was shaped by deep personal history and a commitment to justice.
Born into a family with a legacy of racial trauma—her great-grandfather was lynched in 1939—Bolden was inspired to seek justice in a system that had failed her ancestors.
The injustice her family endured propelled her to pursue a law degree, becoming a defense attorney and later, a member of the House Judiciary Committee where she championed criminal justice reform.
“I wanted families to see justice in a way my family had not seen justice,” she shared with pride.
Michigan Justice Kyra Harris Bolden makes more history with election to state Supreme Court
As a mother, Bolden also made history as the first Michigan Supreme Court candidate to run for office while pregnant, breaking yet another barrier and demonstrating the power of perseverance and resilience.
She aims to inspire future generations, especially young Black women, by showing that leadership and justice are within reach.
Bolden’s election is a momentous step for racial representation in Michigan’s judicial system. With only 41 Black women ever having served on a state supreme court across the nation, Bolden’s success offers hope for broader diversity in the judiciary.
Her mother, Cheryl Harris, expressed deep pride, saying, “She believes in justice and fairness for everybody. To see her in this position — it’s making me tear up right now.”
As Michigan’s first elected Black woman justice, Bolden’s groundbreaking victory is not only a personal achievement but a historic moment for the state and for justice.
