Toal’s Ladder

An Appreciation of South Carolina's Chief Justice, Jean Hoefer Toal

By Nicole Nielson

Nicole Nielson, a third year student at Albany Law School, is a member of the Albany Law Review and the student Executive Editor of the Law Review's annual State Constitutional Commentary issue. She is a Senior Editor of the Center and has previously contributed two articles.


Last spring, Albany Law School and the Albany Law Review were privileged and honored to host renowned Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal of the South Carolina Supreme Court during the Fifth Annual Judge Lawrence H. Cooke State Constitutional Commentary Symposium, Great Women, Great Chiefs.[1]During her remarks, Chief Justice Toal spoke about gender in the legal profession and described her philosophy, “Leaving the ladder down.” [2] This philosophy stands for more than helping diversify the profession—it serves as a clear reminder of her personal, professional, and judicial convictions.

A Night with Great Women, Great Chiefs

Student's Perspective on Dinner and Symposium Remarks with State Chief Justices Margaret Marshall, Marsha Ternus, and Jean Toal

by Nicholas Forst

Nicholas Forst is a second-year student at Albany Law School and the newly selected Moot Court Board Executive Chair for the 2011-2012 Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials Competition.

Thanks to Professor Vincent Bonventre, our State Constitutional Adjudication Seminar was able to have dinner with two State Chief Justices: Hon. Marsha Ternus from Iowa and Hon. Jean Toal from South Carolina.  This dinner was held on the eve of the Albany Law Review's Symposium titled, Great Women, Great Chiefs, where Hon. Margaret Marshall from Massachusetts joined the panel.  It was a wonderful opportunity for Professor Bonventre's students, and we are extremely grateful to the Chief Justices for taking the time to sit down with us.  This article contains this author's impressions from both the dinner and the Chief Justices' remarks at the Symposium.

During our time with the Justices, it became evident how each personified a different approach to legal issues in their roles as head of their respective State judiciaries--Chief Justice Toal, the Firebrand Justice; former Chief Justice Ternus, the Platonist; and retired Chief Justice Marshall, the Revolutionary.  Although it may be considered overly simplistic to assign each justice a title like she is the Amazing Spiderman; the purpose behind it is to more easily qualify the fundamental platform from which their theories and actions emanate.  I believe this was clearly evident in the way each Justice approached her tenure on the court and the current state of affairs in the legal field.

Great Women, Great Chiefs

On Wednesday, February 16, 2011, the Albany Law Review will host it's annual Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke State Constitutional Commentary Symposium. This year's participants are three of the nation's most eminent jurists.

Chief Justice Margaret Marshall of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Chief Justice Marsha Ternus from the Iowa Supreme Court, and Chief Justice Jean Toal of the South Carolina Supreme Court will share their insights as the presiding members of the highest court and the judicial branch of their respective states.

The event begins at 2 p.m. at Albany Law School, in the Dean Alexander Moot Courtroom. A reception will follow.

Join the Law Review for this very special event.

Click here for more information.