Michigan’s highest court includes a trailblazer: Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, the first Black woman to serve on the state’s Supreme Court, the court reports. Appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and sworn in on January 1, 2023, her presence reflects a judiciary that looks more like the people it serves.
Before the bench, Bolden served in the Michigan House of Representatives and built a career rooted in service, from clerkships in Wayne County to civil litigation and community advocacy. A Grand Valley State alum and University of Detroit Mercy Law graduate, her path has been Michigan-grown from classroom to courtroom.
Voters affirmed her leadership in 2024, electing her to continue her work on the court and adding another first to her story. Her journey stands as a steady reminder to young people across the state that excellence belongs in every room where decisions are made.
Cover photo: Meet Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, the First Black Woman to Serve on the Michigan’s Supreme Court / Photo Credit: Michigan Court