by Rina Risper
Bolden will be sworn in as the state’s first Black female Supreme Court justice in January.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — Governor Gretchen Whitmer will announce on November 22 that she will appoint Kyra Harris Bolden to the Michigan Supreme Court in January 2023 to replace Justice Bridget Mary McCormack. Bolden will be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court and the governor’s first appointment to the court.
“I am honored to announce today that I will appoint Kyra Harris Bolden to the Michigan Supreme Court,” Governor Whitmer said. “A state representative from Southfield, former law clerk and litigator, Kyra is passionate about the law and will be the first Black woman ever to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court. She will bring to our high court a unique perspective as a Black woman—and as a new, working mom—that has been too long overlooked. Kyra has been fighting for justice for generations, and I am confident she will serve Michigan admirably, paving the way for a brighter future for her newborn daughter and all of our children.”
“Kyra Harris Bolden will uphold the rule of law and fight for justice for future generations,” Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist said. “Today, I am proud knowing that my daughters can see themselves reflected on the highest court in our state, and I am excited about the legal expertise and lived experience that Kyra will bring to consequential decisions on a wide range of issues. “I am confident she will stand tall for Michigan.”
“Michigan’s courts are steadily becoming more accessible, engaged, and inclusive, and today’s addition to the Supreme Court is a game changer,” Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement said. “We are delighted to welcome the first Black woman to the Court and eager to collaborate with her in leading an independent branch of government dedicated to the rule of law and a justice system that works for all.”
“I am incredibly honoured to be appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court by Governor Whitmer,” Kyra Harris Bolden said. “I will ensure equal access to justice, apply the law without fear or favour, and treat all who appear before our state’s highest court with dignity and respect. I also know that becoming the first Black woman to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court would not have been possible without the leadership of Judges Shelia Johnson, Debra Nance, Deborah Thomas, Cynthia Stephens, and Denise Langford Morris. These are the Black women who paved the way for me to follow. I hope that my presence on the Court will encourage future generations to pursue their ambitions.
This honour humbles me, and I am eager to get to work on behalf of all Michiganders.”
“Today is a historic day. Kyra Harris Bolden’s historic appointment to the Michigan Supreme Court will impact justice and fairness in Michigan for generations to come,” said Judge John A. Murphy, Michigan’s longest-serving judge and the state’s longest-serving elected African American judge. “Her experience as my judicial law clerk, litigator, and her time in the state legislature, coupled with her empathy, inquisitiveness, and sense of justice, will make her an asset to this role. Kyra is an excellent choice for the position of Justice. I’m excited to see how she contributes to the bench.”
Kyra Harris Bolden is a State Representative in Michigan’s 35th House District. Bolden was first elected in November 2018 and began serving the state of Michigan in January 2019. She was re-elected to a second term in 2020. She is the Assistant Democratic Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives and a member of the House Judiciary and Insurance Committees. She has concentrated her efforts on criminal justice reform, crafting and enacting bipartisan legislation to protect sexual violence survivors. Bolden has successfully passed critical bipartisan legislation, including the “Medically Frail” prison reform package, the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act revision, and the “Address Confidentiality for Survivors of Domestic Violence” package.
She is also a member of the Legislative Attorneys Caucus and the House Democratic Caucus’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Bolden worked as a civil litigation attorney with Lewis & Munday, P.C. in Detroit before being elected to the House of Representatives. She also worked as a staff attorney for Judge John A. Murphy in Wayne County’s 3rd Circuit Court and as a court-appointed criminal defense attorney in Southfield’s 46th District Court. Bolden began her legal career as a law clerk for Liss and Shapero, the Detroit Public Schools Office of Labor Relations, and McLemore Law of Detroit.
Bolden graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law with a Juris Doctorate and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grand Valley State University. She is a member of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, the Wolverine Bar Association, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. Bolden continues to give back to her community outside of public service by being a member of the City of Southfield Total Living Commission, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the National Congress of Black Women – Oakland County Chapter. Kyra lives in Southfield, Michigan, with her husband, Dr. Greg Bolden, and their newborn daughter, Emerson Portia Bolden.
Rep. Bolden will be appointed for a one-year term that will end at noon on January 1, 2025. If she wishes to serve the remainder of Justice Bridget Mary McCormack’s term, which ends on January 1, 2029, she must run for re-election in November 2024.
Judicial appointments are not subject to Senate advice and consent.