As the second woman to fill the role of Supreme Court marshal, Col. Gail Curley faces an unprecedented case that might not even be criminal.

Shannon Longworth Reporter

Col. Gail Curley investigating leaked Supreme Court opinion on abortion rights

Jun 13, 2022

Shannon Longworth Reporter

By Shannon Longworth (Reporter), Ryan Tiedgen (Video Editor)

Colonel Gail Curley, the Supreme Court marshal, has begun investigating the leaked draft opinion regarding Dobbs v. Jackson. The final ruling in this case could overturn precedents that protect abortion rights, including Roe v. Wade. As part of that investigation, officials have required law clerks to provide their phone records, according to a CNN report.

Curley began working as Supreme Court marshal in 2021, and she is the second woman to hold the position. She oversees a 260-person staff, leads the Supreme Court Police and manages court proceedings.

Prior to her time with the Court, Curley worked for the U.S. Army. She graduated from the Illinois College of Law in 1999 and the United States Military Academy in 1991.

IT’S MAY 2022 AND A LEAKED SUPREME COURT DRAFT OPINION SHOWS ROE V. WADE WILL BE REVERSED.

POLITICO RUNS THE STORY.

PROTESTS ENSUE NATIONWIDE.

AND ONE WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH FINDING THE SOURCE.

THAT WOMAN IS COLONEL GAIL CURLEY–MARSHAL OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT–AND JUST ONE NAME FOR YOU TO KNOW TODAY.

IN 2021, THE FORMER ARMY LAWYER BECAME THE 11TH MARSHAL AND SECOND WOMAN IN THE ROLE.

A YEAR IN, SHE’S TASKED WITH LEADING THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHO CIRCULATED THE DOCUMENT THAT TIPPED OFF THE PUBLIC TO THE POTENTIAL, LOOMING LOSS OF ABORTION RIGHTS.

NOW, CURLEY HAS CONDUCTED CRIMINAL AND OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THROUGHOUT HER CAREER IN THE U.S. AND GERMANY, BUT THIS INCIDENT IS DIFFERENT.

EXPERTS SAY THERE’S LIKELY NO CRIMINAL CASE HERE, AND THAT HER RESOURCES ARE LIMITED. SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CALL ON THE FBI OR A PRIVATE FIRM FOR ASSISTANCE. HER ABILITY TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IS UNCERTAIN.

BUT WHEN THERE ISN’T A HYPER-CONTROVERSIAL CASE IN HER HANDS, HER JOB CONSISTS OF KEEPING ORDER IN SUPREME COURT PROCEEDINGS, MANAGING MORE THAN 250 EMPLOYEES, AND OVERSEEING THE SUPREME COURT POLICE.