Chief Justice Margaret Marshall was inducted into the inaugural class of the Massachusetts Women’s Hall of Fame (MWHF) at the Massachusetts Women’s History Center Gala on November 9, 2026. The MWHF inaugural class honors historic and living women and organizations whose contributions and achievements have made a lasting impact. Chief Justice Marshall was appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court as an associate justice in 1996 and became its first female chief justice in 1999. During her 14 years on the Court, she authored more than 200 opinions, including the landmark 2003 decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which established that the Massachusetts Constitution prohibits the denial of civil marriage to same-sex couples. The historic ruling made Massachusetts the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Recognized as a champion for an independent judiciary and as a leader in the promotion of administrative reforms within the judicial branch, Chief Justice Marshall greatly improved the delivery of justice during her term, with significant decreases in case backlogs and in the length of time between the filing and resolution of cases, as well as in cost-savings throughout the system. A long-time advocate of access to justice for all, she implemented innovative procedures for self-represented litigants and strengthened pro bono services by the bar.