Lansing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has elected State Representative Kyra Harris Bolden to fill a seat on Michigan’s Supreme Court, making her the first black woman to serve on the state’s Supreme Court.
Whitmer, a Democrat, will announce the selection Tuesday. Bolden succeeds Judge Bridget Mary McCormack, who in September revealed her plans to leave court to become CEO of the New York-based American Arbitration Association-International Center for Dispute Resolution.
McCormack is a Democratic nominee and the Democrats held on to a 4-3 majority in court in this month’s election.
Whitmer described Bolden, a 34-year-old lawmaker from Southfield, as “passionate about the law”.
“She will bring a unique perspective to our Supreme Court as a black woman — and as a new, working mom — that has been left out for too long,” Whitmer added. “Kyra has been committed to justice for generations, and I know she will serve Michigan admirably, building a brighter future for her newborn daughter and all of our children.”
Bolden was a Democratic nominee for two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court in the November 8 election. But she finished narrowly behind Republican-nominated incumbent judge Brian Zahra for the second position.
Bolden received 22% of the vote. Zahra won 24%. Democratic-nominated incumbent Justice Richard Bernstein tied for first with 34%.
For much of the campaign, Bolden ran for office while pregnant and gave birth in August.
