Margherita Cassano has made history in Italy after she was elected the supreme court’s president on Wednesday.
Cassano, the former president of the Florence court of appeal, replaces Pietro Curzio, who retiring. She had been Curzio’s deputy.
Cassano’s appointment comes on the heels of Premier Giorgia Meloni becoming Italy’s first woman head of government last year after leading a right-wing alliance to victory in September’s general election. Rounding out the record-setting trifecta for women in power, Elly Schlein has become the first woman to lead Italy’s opposition, centre-left Democratic Party (PD) after winning Sunday’s leadership primary.
Cassano stated that, “The role of the magistrate is not just about technical ability, but also about humanity, the capacity to listen, deep respect for other people and the capacity to understand the human tragedies hidden behind every case brought to our attention.”
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio congratulated Cassano, saying her appointment was the “finish line of a path that started 60 years ago with the entry of the first women into the judiciary. “It is another fundamental step forward towards real gender equality,” he added.
“Cassano will be a point of reference for the increasingly numerous young women who pass the competitive exam (to become magistrates) to give an essential service to the Republic”.
