1981 – Sandra Glover Becomes First Black Woman to Clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice

On June 11, 1981, Sandra Glover became the first African American woman to clerk for a United States Supreme Court Justice. Assigned to Justice Thurgood Marshall, Glover broke racial and gender barriers in one of the most prestigious positions in American law. Supreme Court clerkships are highly competitive and often reserved for elite law school graduates, making her appointment a historic milestone. Her role placed her at the center of critical legal deliberations and contributed to the legacy of diversity within the U.S. judiciary. Glover\’s appointment inspired a generation of Black women pursuing legal careers and marked a significant step toward inclusion at the highest levels of the legal system. Her success underscored the ongoing efforts to expand access to legal institutions historically closed to people of color.