The “Lady Justice: Women of the Court” podcast will feature Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood, Chief Justice Bridget McCormack of Michigan, and Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia.
In a press release, Justice Guzman describes the podcast as “an exciting opportunity to enhance the public’s understanding about the law in a way that is accessible, informative, and engaging.”
The Lady Justice podcast will focus on our nation’s state courts where more than 90% of cases are heard. The first episode, which premieres on Constitution Day, September 17, will be about state constitutions and how they differ from each other and the U.S. Constitution.
“Trust and confidence in the courts depends on a broader public awareness of the justice system and how it affects all our lives,” Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht said in a press release. “This podcast provides unique insights into the system as seen through the eyes of four national leaders on state supreme courts.”
Residents of the United States all live under the federal constitution, but states also have their own constitutions that govern the daily lives of their residents. Some were adopted more than a century ago while others are only a few decades old. In some states, citizens are granted the power to amend or revise the state constitution while in other states that is not possible.
“As each justice discusses the characteristics of her state’s own constitution, we learn about these differences,” said Justice Wood, who will lead the discussion on the podcast.
The next episode will explore each justice’s journey to the state supreme court and personal experiences in law and on the bench. “Only 5% of U.S. attorneys are Hispanic and about 2% are Latina, so my perspective is borne of the unique experiences of an underrepresented group of professionals,” Justice Guzman said.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, made civics education her enduring legacy, and the Lady Justice podcasters are proud to contribute to her mission of educating, encouraging, and inspiring on matters of import to the public and practicing lawyers.
The podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and in other podcasting apps. It can also be found at: https://ladyjustice.podbean.com/. Trailers for the inaugural episode are available now for public access.
This new podcast series was produced by the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Public Education Program.