In the United States, between the early 19th century and 1980, justices of the Supreme Court were formally called "Mr. Justice (surname)". In 1980, the title was dropped in "to avoid the awkward appellation 'Madam Justice'" in anticipation of a woman joining the court. Plaques on chamber doorways reading "Mr. Justice" were removed after Sandra Day O'Connor joined the court in 1981. Female members of state supreme courts were previously sometimes styled as "Madam Justice", matching the "Mr. Justice" formally used. Justice Rosemary Barkett of the Florida Supreme Court disliked the title, since she was unmarried, and announced that she would simply be called "Justice Barkett", leading all the male justices to drop "Mr." from their forms of address.