Margaret H. Marshall
Encyclopedia
Margaret Hilary Marshall (born September 1, 1944) was the 24th Chief Justice
of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
, and the first female to hold that position. She was Chief Justice from 1999 to 2010. On July 21, 2010, she announced her retirement.
in South Africa
and was a leader of students who opposed the racist apartheid system. Marshall led a student organization for three years called the National Union of South African Students
, which was dedicated to ending oppressive minority rule and achieving equality for all South Africans. According to Marshall, "There was no access to justice in South Africa...There were a few courageous barristers who agreed to represent people charged with political crimes, but, by and large, if you were a black South African, you had no justice. The death penalty was imposed in vastly disproportionate numbers. Many of the offenses were applicable to black South Africans only.". She moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1964 and attended Harvard University
(earning a master's degree in education in 1969) and Yale Law School
. In 1984, she married then-New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis
. It was her second marriage.
. Also from 1991 to 1992, she was President of the Boston Bar Association
, the oldest bar association in the United States. From 1992-1996, she was General Counsel to Harvard University.
Marshall was appointed to be an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
in 1996 by Republican
Governor William F. Weld. She was named as Chief Justice in September 1999 by Republican Governor Paul Cellucci
, to begin her term on October 14, 1999. She is the second woman to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court, the oldest appellate court in the Western Hemisphere
, and the first to serve as Chief Justice in its more than 300 year history.
In the course of her term, she wrote over 200 opinions. Marshall wrote the decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health
that declared that the Massachusetts Constitution does not permit the state to deny citizens the right to same-sex marriage
.
On July 21, 2010, Marshall announced her decision to retire from the Court, effective at the end of October. Marshall said her decision was prompted by a desire to spend more time with her husband, former New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis
, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
.
Marshall formerly served as a member of the Yale Corporation
, the governing body of Yale University
.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC has the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning appellate court in the Western Hemisphere.-History:...
, and the first female to hold that position. She was Chief Justice from 1999 to 2010. On July 21, 2010, she announced her retirement.
Early life
Marshall was born in Newcastle, South Africa, the daughter of a steel executive. She attended University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and was a leader of students who opposed the racist apartheid system. Marshall led a student organization for three years called the National Union of South African Students
National Union of South African Students
The National Union of South African Students was an important force for Liberalism in South Africa in the latter part of the last century...
, which was dedicated to ending oppressive minority rule and achieving equality for all South Africans. According to Marshall, "There was no access to justice in South Africa...There were a few courageous barristers who agreed to represent people charged with political crimes, but, by and large, if you were a black South African, you had no justice. The death penalty was imposed in vastly disproportionate numbers. Many of the offenses were applicable to black South Africans only.". She moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1964 and attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(earning a master's degree in education in 1969) and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
. In 1984, she married then-New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis
Anthony Lewis
Anthony Lewis is a prominent liberal intellectual, writing for The New York Times op-ed page and The New York Review of Books, among other publications. He was previously a columnist for the Times . Before that he was London bureau chief , Washington, D.C...
. It was her second marriage.
Legal career
From 1976 to 1989, she was an associate and a partner in private practice at the Boston law firm of Csaplar & Bok. From 1989 to 1992, she was a partner in the Boston law firm of Choate, Hall & StewartChoate, Hall & Stewart
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP is a Boston-based law firm founded in 1899. It is currently one of the largest law firms in the Greater Boston market, and one of the old-line Boston Brahmin firms which has previously been described by The New York Times as having a reputation for being "stuffy." Legal...
. Also from 1991 to 1992, she was President of the Boston Bar Association
Boston Bar Association
The Boston Bar Association, which also goes by the acronym BBA, is a volunteer non-governmental organization in Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
, the oldest bar association in the United States. From 1992-1996, she was General Counsel to Harvard University.
Marshall was appointed to be an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC has the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning appellate court in the Western Hemisphere.-History:...
in 1996 by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Governor William F. Weld. She was named as Chief Justice in September 1999 by Republican Governor Paul Cellucci
Paul Cellucci
Argeo Paul Cellucci is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and US Ambassador to Canada.-Early life and career:...
, to begin her term on October 14, 1999. She is the second woman to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court, the oldest appellate court in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
, and the first to serve as Chief Justice in its more than 300 year history.
In the course of her term, she wrote over 200 opinions. Marshall wrote the decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health
Goodridge v. Department of Public Health
Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 , was a landmark state appellate court case dealing with same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The November 18, 2003, decision was the first by a U.S...
that declared that the Massachusetts Constitution does not permit the state to deny citizens the right to same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts
Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Massachusetts began on May 17, 2004, as a result of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that it was unconstitutional under the Massachusetts constitution to allow only heterosexual couples to marry...
.
On July 21, 2010, Marshall announced her decision to retire from the Court, effective at the end of October. Marshall said her decision was prompted by a desire to spend more time with her husband, former New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis
Anthony Lewis
Anthony Lewis is a prominent liberal intellectual, writing for The New York Times op-ed page and The New York Review of Books, among other publications. He was previously a columnist for the Times . Before that he was London bureau chief , Washington, D.C...
, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
Marshall formerly served as a member of the Yale Corporation
Yale Corporation
The Yale Corporation, sometimes, and more formally, known as The President and Fellows of Yale College, is the governing body of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.The Corporation comprises 19 members:...
, the governing body of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.