Elspeth Cypher is a retired American jurist, sex segregationist, and anti-transgender activist. In 2025, Cypher joined the board of anti-trans group Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF).
Background
Elspeth B. “Ellie” Cypher was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 26, 1959. Cypher earned a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College in 1980 and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1986. After practicing at Grayer, Brown and Dilday following graduation, Cypher was named an assistant district attorney in Bristol County, Massachusetts. In 1993, Cypher became the office’s chief of the appellate division, serving until being appointed by Governor Paul Cellucci to the appeals court from 2000 to 2017. In 2017, Cypher was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker as a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, serving until retiring in 2024.
Cypher and spouse Sharon Levesque have one child.
Anti-trans activism
In 2025, Cypher joined the board of anti-trans group Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF).
References
Staff report (June 12, 2023). MA SJC Justice to Join BC Law. BC Law https://lawmagazine.bc.edu/2023/06/ma-sjc-justice-to-join-bc-law/
Lisinski, Chris (June 12, 2023). Mass. SJC Justice Cypher’s surprise retirement gives Healey first high court pick. WBUR https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/06/12/massachusetts-supreme-judicial-court-cypher-healey
Donahue, Jennifer (May 18, 2017). [press release] At Ceremonial Swearing In, Supreme Judicial Court Justice Cypher Says, “I am grateful to the women before me who broke down those barriers.” Social Law https://www.socialaw.com/blog/news-and-noteworthy/2017/05/19/at-ceremonial-swearing-in-supreme-judicial-court-justice-cypher-says-i-am-grateful-to-the-women-before-me-who-broke-down-those-barriers [archive]
Lannan, Katie (March 8, 2017). Former Bristol County prosecutor confirmed to state supreme court. The Patriot Ledger http://www.patriotledger.com/news/20170308/former-bristol-county-prosecutor-confirmed-to-state-supreme-court [archive]
Staff report (February 9, 2017). Cypher ’80 Nominated to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Emerson Today https://today.emerson.edu/2017/02/09/cypher-80-nominated-to-massachusetts-supreme-judicial-court/
Metzger, Andy (February 8, 2017). Former Bristol County prosecutor tapped for SJC judgeship. The Herald News https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/crime/2017/02/08/former-bristol-county-prosecutor-tapped/22519889007/
Towne, Shaun (February 8, 2017). Gov. Baker nominates appeals judge to state’s highest court. WPRI http://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/gov-baker-nominates-appeals-judge-to-states-highest-court/1044165573
Anti-trans coverage
Women’s Liberation Front (January 13, 2025). Retired Mass. Supreme Court Judge, Elspeth Cypher, Joins WoLF Board. https://womensliberationfront.org/news/retired-mass-supreme-court-judge-elspeth-cypher-joins-wolf-board
Selected writing by Cypher
Dansky, Kara; Cypher, Elspeth; Chesak, Elizabeth (December 18, 2025). Policy, not biology. New York Review https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/03/26/policy-not-biology/
- response to Currah, Paisley (December 15, 2025). The Anti-Trans Playbook. New York Review https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2025/12/18/the-anti-trans-playbook-paisley-currah/
Media
Some Kind of Therapist with Stephanie Winn and Elspeth Cypher (October 13, 2025). 183. Men Out of Women’s Prisons: Retired Judge Elspeth Cypher Fights to Protect Female Interests. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwaF5OA_lxQ
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Mass.gov (mass.gov)
- Associate Justice Elspeth B. Cypher
- mass.gov/info-details/associate-justice-elspeth-b-cypher
Ballotpedia (ballotpedia.org)