Missouri’s Republican Gov. Michael Parson has appointed Judge Robin Ransom to the Missouri Supreme Court, the first Black woman named a state justice, reported AP News.
“Judge Ransom will add valuable experience, perspective, and balance to the court. I have high confidence that she will continue to be a fair enforcer of the law, faithfully interpret the law as written, and reasonably consider decisions made at the trial and appellate level in her own evaluation,” said Parson in a press release announcing the appointment Monday.
“The Supreme Court of Missouri serves an essential role in maintaining our system of justice, upholding the law, and protecting both the Missouri and the United States Constitutions, and I greatly appreciate the work of the judicial commission in submitting such a strong panel of qualified candidates,” said Parson.
Judge Ransom was appointed as a circuit judge for St. Louis county in 2008 and was appointed to the Missouri Eastern District Court of Appeals in 2019. Ransom also has years of experience working in St. Louis County Family Court-Juvenile Division from 1996 to 2008, the first six years as a staff attorney.
Before that, Judge Ransom served in the St. Louis County public defender office 1992 to 1995 and prosecuting attorney’s office from 1995 to 1996.
“Judge Ransom brings years of experience to our bench, with a distinguished career in litigation, family courts and the trial bench before her appellate service. She also is a trailblazer, becoming the first woman of color ever to serve on our state’s high court. She is passionate about the law, and we welcome the energy, enthusiasm and experience she brings to our bench,” said Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice George W. Draper III in a press release.
Judge Ransom is replacing Judge Laura Denvir Stith, who retired in March after serving 20 years on the state Supreme Court. Stith was the second woman to serve for the state’s high court.
“Of course it is not lost on me the historic nature of this appointment, to be the first African-American woman appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court,” said Ransom, in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “This is a very happy day for my mom, myself and my entire family.”
As the only Black woman and third Black person to serve on the state Supreme Court, Judge Ransom’s historic appointment reflects a lack of diversity across high courts in the United States.
Only 17 percent of justices in state high courts across the United States are Black, Latino, Asian American or Native American, although making up approximately 40 percent of the population, said a study done by the Brennan Center for Justice. The report was last updated on April 6.
According to the report, 22 states have no justices on their Supreme Court that identifies as a person of color. Women also only account for 39 percent of judges on state Supreme Courts, and only one woman on each court in 12 states.
“I can’t cure all of the social ills and injustices that are out there, and this appointment won’t do that,” Ransom said, according to AP News.
“What this appointment does show is that this governor has the courage to make such an appointment, that he has great vision for this state, and he knows how great this state is and what this state can be.”
Read more: Why We Need Federal Judges Who Are Former Public Defenders
Emily Riley is a TCR justice reporting intern