The representation of women in the judicial branch: Eighteen Latin American High Courts in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This article explores the representation of women in the high courts of eighteen Latin American countries. Using an unpublished database, we find that, as in the legislatures and ministerial cabinets, the number of women in high courts is small. The article also demonstrates that although there is little difference in judges’ ages or postgraduate studies, men reach the high court levels more easily. Additionally, empirical evidence shows that, at the time of their appointment, the percentage of women with prior judicial experience is usually greater than for men. These results show that the greater presence of male judges is related not to academic merit or previous judicial experience but rather to a structural process of exclusion of women from political decision-making fields. In this regard, the article also finds that the few positions assigned to female judges are not in areas of great political significance, much less in the presidency of the high courts.