Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Boyle

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Description:

Part 1: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Boyle talks about her childhood, the influence of family on her life, and her college years at the University of Michigan, an institution which she says was woefully lacking in diversity during her time there. She also says that she "fell into" the practice of law, describes law school, and says that she was ill treated by her male classmates. After law school, Boyle says that she had an almost impossible time finding a job in a male dominated field and that the job interview process itself was often sexist. She says that early in her career she was naive about sexism in the legal field, cites the disparity in pay between genders, and says that women are denied equal opportunity and that most women in the field work as secretaries or "helpers". Boyle also recalls the tensions between her career and family life, her eventual divorce, her second marriage and the impact of her career on her children. Part 2: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Boyle discusses being considered for the position of U.S. Attorney General during the Clinton Administration, other job opportunities, how selections are made for high profile jobs, and the incredible personal scrutiny candidates face. Boyle also says that the Court was remarkably "clean" during her tenure, even in the face of party politics and that she simply tried to "do what was right" at all times. Boyle also critiques the other Chief Justices who served with her, including Justices Riley and Levin and describes how gender, race and ethnicity affected the Court's decisions. Boyle concludes by describing her appointment to the Court by Governor Blanchard. Part 3: Michigan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Boyle describes her relationships with Michigan Governors Milliken, Blanchard and Engler and discusses the differences in their politics. Boyle also discusses several high profile decisions made by the Court during her tenure, such as in the "Baby Jessica" and Dr. Jack Kevorkian cases and the contentious legal issues faced by the Court, including the Duty to Aid or Protect Doctrine, unintended harm, negligence and liability, grandparent visitation rights, Miranda rights, criminal sentences and probation, and the cost of incarceration versus treatment for drug offenses. Boyle also comments on liberal and conservative influences on the Court, the principles under which the Court operates, Court authority in relation to the state legislature, single party domination of the branches of government, and the U.S. Justices she admires.

Date Created:

2002-01-01T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Michigan State University. Libraries

Collection:

Interviews with Michigan State Supreme Court Justices

Place:

Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, United States, Michigan, United States, and United States

Subject Topic:

Officials and employees, Officials and employees, Selection and appointment, Relations with governors, Jurisprudence, Judicial process, Political aspects, Political questions and judicial power, Politics and government, Judges, Judges, Selection and appointment, Judges, Officials and employees, Selection and appointment, Legislative hearings, Psychological aspects, Judicial process, Sex discrimination against women, Sex discrimination in employment, and Work-life balance

Subject Name:

Boyle, Patricia J., 1937-, Michigan, Supreme Court, Michigan, Supreme Court, Boyle, Patricia J., 1937-, United States, and Department of Justice

Subject Genre:

Interviews, Interviews, Interviews, and Biography

Language:

English

Rights:

In Copyright

URL:

https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5154dp1w