Biography first woman judge

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The most notable examples are masters in chancery^[501] and U.S. Commissioners.^[502] Second, the chart excludes women who were referred to informally as “judges” because of their pseudo-judicial roles.^[503] These women were important for reasons discussed in the Article text, but this chart records only official women judges.

One writer observed that permitting women justices “is only the extended application of a settled rule.”^[180]

Newspaper articles indicate that the spark for the justice of the peace eligibility question was the Kansas governor’s desire to appoint Maria DeGeer, a successful lawyer, newspaper editor, and businesswoman.^[181] According to one account, DeGeer was interested in the position for two reasons: to regulate the whisky business in her town, “and second, she is an advocate of ‘woman’s rights’ and loses no opportunity to push that doctrine to the front and to put in practice what she preaches.”^[182] Though news coverage is somewhat inconsistent, it seems that the governor appointed DeGeer’s brother before learning of her likely eligibility.^[183] Later that year, DeGeer claimed significant speaking time at the annual meeting of the American Equal Suffrage Association, which met in Topeka and also featured Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe.^[184]

Kansan suffragists finally won a partial victory in February 1887, with the enactment of “An Act conferring upon women the right to vote at city elections, and to hold certain offices.”^[185] Effective immediately, women could vote for city and school officers, and they were eligible for those same offices.^[186] Impliedly this meant they could not vote for town, county, or state officers,^[187] yet the law arguably left untouched the precedent that women could hold offices for which they could not vote.

Castle^[520]

Callender, IA

N

JP

Elected

Apr. 1884

J. Mrs. M.U.

Lockwood

9. The first two women judges in Missouri served to complete the terms of a deceased husband or father.^[245] Their stories began similarly to those in Kansas and Colorado.

Women probation officers were especially welcome in specialized courts focused on women, children, and families. Typically, the position involved hearing testimony, developing findings, and providing recommendations to a judge.^[342]

To support the women judges proposal, some New York commenters highlighted the service of Chicago “judge” Mary Bartelme.^[343] Bartelme was a lawyer who had advocated for the creation of the Chicago juvenile court.^[344] After years of involvement with that court, Bartelme became an unofficial “assistant judge” for girls’ cases in 1912.^[345]

The press often obscured the fact that Bartelme’s position was not a real judgeship under state law.

She was third in her class. fitted them to care for children.”^[386] Prominent suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt weighed in that, although she did not know Baright, “I think it very appropriate that a woman should hold such a position if she is qualified.”^[387] Baright’s background was in fact particularly suited to the role, as she paired legal training with more than a decade of social service work with delinquent children.^[388]

Press initially leaned favorable.

In 1914, the chairwoman of the Brooklyn Committee on Women Judges in the Children’s Court explained in a letter to the editor that her organization supported a pending bill to authorize women judges as “assistants.”^[359] Citing Bartelme’s successful service in Chicago, as well as support from some New York judges, she explained that local judges could not follow suit “without authorization from the Legislature.”^[360] The bill did not pass.

In these years, people also pressed for women judges in newly created “women’s courts,” which heard criminal cases (especially prostitution) against adult women.^[361] For reasons similar to those in the juvenile court context, women lawyers and other advocates envisioned women judges presiding.^[362] For instance, when women’s organizations in New York City advocated for a special women’s court division of the criminal magistrates’ court system, they insisted from the outset that it be overseen by a woman magistrate.^[363] Advocates only partly succeeded.

Mary E. Stark

15. O’Connor died in December 2023 at age 93. Mrs. Chase

Warner

17. Shall she take her seat on the judicial bench, in the pulpit or at the bar?”^[58] After listing several other professional pursuits, she concluded, “Whatever she has the ability and capacity to do, it is right she should do.”^[59]

As the women’s movement gained traction after the Civil War,^[60] women’s interest in becoming judges served as a common example of women’s pursuit of political and professional rights.

Many observers celebrated the first woman to become a justice of the peace and anticipated that her service would open opportunities for other women.

Experiences varied. Stickney and later United States v. She earned a law degree from New York University Law School in 1913. 

After law school, Allen returned to Cleveland, where she passed the Ohio bar and started her own practice. Mrs. R.P.
Whipple

18. For instance, in 1912, the widow of a Missouri probate judge received significant support for completing his term, with “prominent men” withdrawing from consideration when they learned she had applied to the governor.^[252] However, one former judge interested in the position reached out to the governor “in case it was deemed unwise” to appoint the woman.^[253] When that man was selected, newspaper coverage suggested that the woman’s application was not accepted because some feared that a woman presiding as probate judge would cast “a cloud” on land titles.^[254]

A burst of suffrage wins in the 1910s added momentum to women’s increasing judicial service.