The US government will send four female advocates to argue five cases during the Supreme Court’s December sitting, nearly doubling the number of women who have argued this term.
Men vastly outnumber women at the high court lectern, with female advocates in the argument lineup 13 times so far this term compared to 62 males. The disparity among attorneys of color is even greater.
Most women advocates have come from the solicitor general’s office, rather than from private firms. During October’s arguments over affirmative action in higher education, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar noted that two women would argue during the court’s November sitting, out of 27 advocates total.
“And I think it would be reasonable for a woman to look at that and wonder, is that a path that’s open to me, to be a Supreme Court advocate?” Prelogar said.
The December sitting gets underway Monday.
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