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In this paper, we examine the promotion of women to national high courts in a sample of European nations from 1970 to 2008. While research in the United States often examines the effect of various selection/retention methods on the number of women on high courts, the conclusions are ambiguous. We believe that while different selection mechanisms may affect the number of women on courts, we also believe that political parties may play an under recognized role in the advancement of women. In particular, political parties that have instituted gender quotas for legislative office may also help advance the promotion of women. In our research, we analyze the relationship between gender quota policies and the number of women appointed to the bench while also accounting for how judges are recruited and selected for office. Our sample includes ten European nations that vary in the method of judicial selection and the use of gender quotas. We believe our results will shed insights into the question of how to create more representative judicial institutions. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]