Nancy Gertner

Cognoscenti contributor

Judge Nancy Gertner was appointed to the bench in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, and retired in September of 2011 to join the faculty of Harvard Law School. Her autobiography, "In Defense of Women: Memoirs of an Unrepentant Advocate," was published in 2011.

Recently published

Associate US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas poses for the official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC on October 7, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

A 1989 statute prevents Supreme Court justices from accepting honoraria. Justice Thomas found a workaround

Judges have been prohibited from receiving honoraria or any other gifts since the Ethics Reform Act of 1989. The statutory ban covered all judges, members of the Supreme Court and...

Cognoscenti

Oct 26, 2023

Gov. Maura Healey -- then a gubernatorial candidate -- speaks at the Annual Greater Boston Labor Council Breakfast on Labor Day in Boston on Sept. 5, 2022. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

What Gov. Maura Healey should do about crime

The new governor should look to one of her predecessors, former Gov. Michael Dukakis, as a role model, writes Nancy Gertner.

Cognoscenti

Feb 13, 2023

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, with President Joe Biden, speaks after she was nominated for Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC, February 25, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Ketanji Brown Jackson isn't a radical — despite what the GOP wants you to think

Conservatives want to discredit Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, writes retired federal Judge Nancy Gertner. Here's why their criticism doesn't hold up.

Cognoscenti

Mar 1, 2022

A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 1, 2021 in Washington, DC. A new Texas law that prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into effect on Wednesday. The U.S. Supreme Court did not act on a request to block the law. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Lawlessness Of The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has refused to block a blatantly unconstitutional Texas law prohibiting most abortions. Why? Power, writes retired federal judge Nancy Gertner, plain and simple.

Cognoscenti

Sep 15, 2021

Judge Nancy Gertner On Vaccine Mandates, Challenges To Abortion Rights

Can the president mandate shots? And how well is Massachusetts protected from these and other iconic legal battles of the moment? We turn to Nancy Gertner, retired federal judge, senior...

Radio Boston

15:46Sep 13, 2021

Judge Gertner On The Law: Boston School Texts, DACA

We're joined by Nancy Gertner, retired federal judge, senior lecturer at Harvard Law School, and WBUR Legal Analyst.

Radio Boston

16:48Jul 19, 2021

The Battle Between Mayor Janey And Commissioner White Continues

WBUR's Ally Jarmanning brings us the latest on this still developing story. We also break down the legal arguments with Nancy Gertner, retired federal judge, senior lecturer at Harvard Law...

Radio Boston

14:48May 26, 2021

Guns, Abortion, Mayoral Powers And Free Speech

Legal battles from the city of Boston to the Supreme Court could affect our future here in the Commonwealth. We'll get caught up on what's happening with retired federal judge...

Radio Boston

14:05May 19, 2021

Supreme Court To Consider Reimposing Tsarnaev Death Penalty

The Supreme Court says the justices will consider an appeal of the First Circuit's decision last summer to overturn Tsarnaev's death sentence.

Nancy Gertner

A 1989 statute prevents Supreme Court justices from accepting honoraria. Justice Thomas found a workaround

What Gov. Maura Healey should do about crime

Ketanji Brown Jackson isn't a radical — despite what the GOP wants you to think

The Lawlessness Of The Supreme Court

Judge Nancy Gertner On Vaccine Mandates, Challenges To Abortion Rights

Judge Gertner On The Law: Boston School Texts, DACA

The Battle Between Mayor Janey And Commissioner White Continues

Guns, Abortion, Mayoral Powers And Free Speech

Supreme Court To Consider Reimposing Tsarnaev Death Penalty

What's Next After The Capitol Insurrection?