International Day of Women Judges • March 10
For most of history, the judge’s bench was occupied almost entirely by men.
It was not always because women lacked the ability to interpret the law. In many countries during the 19th century and early 20th century, women were simply not allowed to enter the legal profession. They could not study law, practice it, or sit in judgment.
The door was closed before the question could even be tested.
During the 20th century, that slowly changed. Universities opened to women, and more of them entered legal careers. Over time, some reached the bench. Today women serve as judges in many countries and at many levels of the judiciary.
But the balance is still uneven, especially in senior positions within courts.
That reality is one reason March 10 is observed as the International Day of Women Judges.
In 2026, the observance draws attention not only to women who sit on the bench deciding cases, but also to the work many of them do beyond the courtroom. Some mentor younger lawyers. Others help improve legal systems or support efforts that make courts more accessible to people who often feel shut out by them.
The issue is not only representation.
It is also trust.
Courts are stronger when the people who serve justice reflect the society that stands before them, with women judges serving both on the bench and beyond it, helping protect access to justice.
ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
