Ladies First at Supreme Court Oral Arguments

The female members of the U.S. Supreme Court tend to speak up first during oral arguments, according to research by Bloomberg Law.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has jumped in first in nearly half of the 22 cases argued at the high court so far this term. Together with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the two have kicked off the questioning in nearly two-thirds of the high court’s cases this term.

A recent law review article noted that female justices were more likely to be interrupted during oral argument.

Since 2011, Justice Elena Kagan’s first full year on the bench, the women are ...