This is a list of the first women lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Alabama. It includes the year in which the women were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are women who achieved other distinctions such becoming the first in their state to graduate from law school or become a political figure.
Firsts in Alabama's history edit
Law School edit
- First female law graduates: Floella T. Bonner and Virginia Henry Mayfield in 1920[1]
Lawyers edit
- First female: Maud McLure Kelly (1908)[2]
- First African American female: Mahala Ashley Dickerson (1948)[3][4]
- One of Alabama's first Korean American lawyers (2008): Doh Ah Kim[5]
State judges edit
- First female: Virginia Henry Mayfield in 1923[6][7]
- First African American female: Faya Ora Rose Touré[8][9]
- First female (Alabama Court of Appeals): Annie Lola Price (1928) in 1951[10][11]
- First female (Supreme Court of Alabama): Janie Shores (1959) in 1974[6]
- First elected female (trial judge): Phyllis S. Nesbit in 1976[12][13]
- First female (probate judge): Earlean Isaac in 1989[14]
- First female (district court judge): Sharon Lovelace Blackburn in 1991[15]
- First female (Southern District of Alabama): Callie "Ginny" V. Granade (1975) in 2002[16]
- First female chief justice (Supreme Court of Alabama): Sue Bell Cobb (1981) in 2006[17]
- First (African American) female (elected state judge): Deborah Biggers (1975) in 2014[18][19]
- First female (presiding judge): Elisabeth French in 2020[20]
Attorney General of Alabama edit
- First female (acting): Alice Martin (1981) in 2017[21]
United States Attorney edit
- First female (Northern District of Alabama): Alice Martin (1981) in 2001[21]
Assistant United States Attorney edit
- First female (Southern District of Alabama): Callie "Ginny" V. Granade (1975) from 1977-2011[22]
District Attorneys edit
- First female: Janice Clardy in 1985[23]
- First African American female: Lynneice Washington (1996) in 2017[24][25]
Assistant District Attorney edit
Political Office edit
- First females elected to U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama: Terri Sewell (1994) and Martha Roby (c. 2001) in 2010[28][29][30]
- First female elected to U.S. Senate from Alabama: Katie Britt in 2022[31]
Alabama State Bar Association edit
Firsts in local history edit
- Martha Lynn Sherrod:[36] First African American female judge to win a partisan election in North Alabama
- Inge Prytz Johnson (1973):[6] First female to serve on the 31st Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama (1978)
- Shannon Clark:[37] First female serve as a Judge of the Twelfth District in Alabama (2011)
- Kimberly Clark (1996):[38][39] First female serve as a Judge of the Thirty-Third Judicial Circuit in Alabama (2015)
- Janice Clardy:[23] First female to serve as a District Attorney in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Alabama (1985) [Autauga, Chilton and Elmore Counties, Alabama]
- Phyllis S. Nesbit:[12][13] First female to serve on the Baldwin County District Court (1976). She was also the first female President of the Baldwin County Bar Association, Alabama (1966-1967).
- Sherry Burns:[40] First female judge in Blount County, Alabama (2010)
- Shannon Clark:[37] First female circuit court judge for Coffee and Pike Counties, Alabama (2011)
- Sue Bell Cobb (1981):[17] First female judge in Conecuh County, Alabama
- Eugenia Lee Loggins (1978):[41] First female lawyer in the city of Opp and Covington County, Alabama
- Juliet St. John Given (1976):[42] First female lawyer in Cullman County, Alabama
- Kimberly Clark:[38][39] First female circuit court judge in Dale and Geneva Counties, Alabama (2015)
- Earlean Isaac:[14] First African American female to serve on the Greene County Probate Court in Alabama (1989)
- Lori Collier Ingram:[43] First female district court judge in Houston County, Alabama (2009)
- Deborah Dunsmore:[44] First female municipal court judge in Scottsboro, Alabama (2022) [Jackson County, Alabama]
- Nina Miglionico:[45] First female (a lawyer) to become a member of the Birmingham City Council (1963) [Jefferson County, Alabama]
- Judith "Judy" Crittenden (1970):[26][27] First female to become an Assistant District Attorney in Jefferson County, Alabama
- Agnes Chappell (1977):[46] First African American female lawyer in Jefferson County, Alabama. She would later become a judge.
- Helen Shores Lee (1987):[47] First African American female to serve on the Civil Division of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County (2003)
- Kira Fonteneau:[48] First (African American) female to head the then newly created Jefferson County Public Defender Office (2012)
- Lynneice Washington (1996):[24][25][49][50] First female (and African American female) District Attorney in Jefferson County, Alabama (2017)
- Elisabeth French:[51] First female to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Jefferson County Court in Alabama (2020)
- Deborah Bell Paseur (1977):[52] First female lawyer in Lauderdale County, Alabama. She would later become a judge.
- Angie Hamilton:[53] First female to serve as an Assistant District Attorney for Lauderdale County, Alabama (2017)
- Angela Dawson Terry (1998):[54] First female district judge in Lawrence County, Alabama
- Linda W.H. Henderson:[55] First female to become President of the Macon County Bar Association (2000-2003, et al.)
- Martha Lynn Sherrod:[36] First African American (female) to serve as the Assistant District Attorney and a Presiding Municipal and District Court Judge in Madison County, Alabama
- Andrea LeCroy:[56] First female probate judge in Marshall County, Alabama
- Jennifer Bray:[57] First female to serve as the District Attorney for Marshall County, Alabama (2023)
- Sonja Bivins:[58] First African American [female] magistrate in Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama
- Frankie Fields Smith:[59] First African American female to serve as a Municipal Court Judge in Mobile County, Alabama (1975)
- Ashley Rich:[60] First female District Attorney of Mobile County, Alabama (2010)
- Eldora Anderson:[61] First African American female (and African American in general) probate judge in Perry County, Alabama (2006)
- Amy Newsome:[62] First female district court judge in Randolph County, Alabama (2018)
- Brandi Williams:[63] First female municipal court judge in St. Clair County, Alabama (2018)
- Patricia M. Smith:[64] First female judge in Shelby County, Alabama
- Jill Lee:[65] First female to become District Attorney for Shelby County, Alabama (2014)
- Virginia H. Mayfield:[6][7] First female judge in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama (1923)
- Jane Kimbrough Dishuck (1947):[66] First female lawyer in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
- Mabey Yerby Lawson:[67][68] First female to graduate from the University of Alabama law school [Tuscaloosa County, Alabama]
- Briana Westry-Robinson:[69][70] First African-American female to serve as the youngest judge in Wilcox County, Alabama (2017)
See also edit
Other topics of interest edit
References edit
- ^ "State News". The Selma Times-Journal. June 4, 1923. p. 2. Retrieved April 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Alabama State Bar Inducts New Members to Lawyers' Hall of Fame — Alabama State Bar". Alabama State Bar. 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
- ^ Smith, John Clay (2000). Rebels in Law: Voices in History of Black Women Lawyers. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0472086464.
- ^ Mason, Herman Skip (December 2000). Politics, Civil Rights, and Law in Black Atlanta, 1870-1970. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-8226-9.
- ^ Harper, Brad. "Lawyer Soo Seok Yang wins Chad Stewart community service award". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
- ^ a b c d "Women in the Judiciary" (PDF). Court News. August 1984.
- ^ a b Dabney, Richard (2006-11-08). Birmingham's Highland Park. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439617496.
- ^ "Councilors Ayanna Pressley and Charles C. Yancey" (PDF). March 3, 2010.
- ^ Basu, Moni; Ravitz, Jessica (January 7, 2015). "From Selma to Ferguson and back: Has anything changed?". CNN. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- ^ "Memorial Service for the Honorable Annie Lola Price" (PDF). Alabama Appellate Courts Reports. 49:5. October 3, 1972.
- ^ "Cullman's Judge Annie Lola Price Was a Woman Ahead of Her Time!". CullmanSense. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
- ^ a b Cheely, Elizabeth Cason Crosby. "Judge Phyllis S. Nesbit: A Woman of Courage" (PDF). The Alabama Lawyer.
- ^ a b "Alabama's first woman elected trial judge dies". archive.decaturdaily.com. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ a b Slowe, Betty. "Looking Back: 1/27". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "U.S. District Courts in Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ Erickson, Ben (2008). Mobile's legal legacy: three hundred years of law in the Port City. Birmingham, Ala: Association Pub. Co. ISBN 978-0-9668380-8-4.
- ^ a b Johnson, Bob. "Sue Bell Cobb resigns as chief justice". Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ^ "Deborah Biggers '75 Elected District Court Judge in Alabama". Fisk University News (Fisk University). January 2015. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- ^ Upon her appointment as a Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Alabama
- ^ "UM alumna becomes first female African American presiding judge in Alabama". The University of Montevallo. 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b "Alice Martin asked Robert Bentley to appoint her as Attorney General". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
- ^ Congressional Record, V. 148, PT. 1, January 23, 2002 to February 13, 2002. Government Printing Office. 2006-04-28. ISBN 9780160760747.
- ^ a b Lackeos, Nick (July 21, 1997). "Big Case Began D.A.'s Career". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ a b Hill, Zahara (2017-01-25). "This Former Judge Just Became Alabama's First Black Female District Attorney". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ a b Blandin, Venton. "Jefferson County set for arrival of two new district attorneys". WBMA. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ a b "Judith S.Crittenden - Alabama Lawyers - The Redoubtable Ms. Crittenden". Super Lawyers. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ a b "Crittenden, Marsh Receive Cumberland Alumni Awards". Samford University. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "Black Lawmakers Break New Ground, Suffer Losses | Madame Noire | Blac…". archive.is. 2012-07-07. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
- ^ "Terri Sewell, Martha Roby first women elected to U.S. House from Alabama". 6WBRC. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
- ^ Sewell has the added distinction of being the first African American female elected to Congress.
- ^ Treisman, Rachel (2022-11-09). "Meet some of Tuesday's history-making election winners". NPR. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ^ "Oakland Cemetery visitors asked to donate for sisters' sake". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ Smith Jr., J. Clay (1999). Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-1685-1.
- ^ Upon the analyses of various sources, although Henderson was the first African American woman to gain admittance to the Alabama Bar, there is a high possibility that she relocated soon after to Georgia.
- ^ "Northport woman becomes 1st female attorney to head Alabama State Bar". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ a b Schueller, Olivia. "Local attorney reacts to President Biden vowing to nominate a black female to Supreme Court". WAAY 31 News. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
- ^ a b "Shannon Clark sworn-in as Circuit Judge". The Elba Clipper. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ a b "JSL Alumni Receive Judicial Appointments in the Wiregrass Area - Faulkner University". Faulkner University. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
- ^ a b "Kimberly Clark Takes Oath of Office as Circuit Judge". www.wtvy.com. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "Wallace State's Adult Education conducts 2016 GED Commencement, 178 students graduating this year | Wallace State News". news.wallacestate.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- ^ "Opp Chamber of Commerce". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ "Remembering the life of Juliet Given John Calvin 1933 - 2016". Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ Staff report. "Judge Lori Collier Ingram announces candidacy for Houston County District Court judge". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ Patterson, DeWayne. "Dunsmore named Scottsboro's first female city judge". Jackson County Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ "How Alabama Lawyers Value Their Legal Heritage" (PDF). Alabama Lawyer. July 2012.
- ^ "Talladega College hosts opening convocation honoring Black History Month (photos)". The Anniston Star. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
- ^ "Retired Judge Helen Shores Lee, daughter of MLK's attorney, dies". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "Birmingham lawyer Kira Fonteneau hired to lead Jefferson County's first public defender office". al. 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
- ^ "Lynneice Washington steps into history as new district attorney in Bessemer Cutoff". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ Blandin, Venton (2016-11-10). "Jefferson County set for arrival of two new district attorneys". WBMA. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ "Judge Elisabeth French to Become First Female Presiding Judge of Jefferson County Court System". Alabama State Bar. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ Smith, Tom. "Hamilton is county's first female assistant DA". TimesDaily. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ Mcdaniel, Deangelo (February 22, 2016). "Lawrence's first female judge known for fairness, knowledge of law". Decatur Daily.
- ^ "Linda Henderson candidate for district judge". The Tuskegee News. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ Beck, Taylor. "LeCroy talks about special American flag". sandmountainreporter.com. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
- ^ Sapp, Savannah (2023-02-03). "'I am honored': meet Marshall County's first female district attorney". WAFF. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "The judge who changed Mobile COMING MONDAY Federal Judge Virgil Pittman upended Mobile's entrenched political systems but had to weather intense disdain. The judge who changed Mobile Virgil Pittman transformed local government, upended segregation". infoweb.newsbank.com. May 7, 2006. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
- ^ Johnson, Jr., Raymond L. (May 1993). "Black Pioneer Lawyers in Alabama—Living Legends". Alabama Lawyer.
- ^ "About the District Attorney". Mobile County District Attorney. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
- ^ Dewitt, Robert. "WEST ALABAMA ROUNDUP: Fayette sheriff goes down in runoff". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- ^ "Newsome sworn in as district judge". The Randolph Leader. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ Glidewell, Urainah. "Pell City appoints first female municipal court judge". St. Clair News-Aegis. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "Judge Patti will be a state asset | Shelby County Reporter". m.shelbycountyreporter.com. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- ^ Brooks, Graham (2014-10-27). "Jill Lee sworn in as first female Shelby County District Attorney". Shelby County Reporter. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "Jane Kimbrough Dishuck's Obituary on Tuscaloosa News". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
- ^ "About the Greystone Mansion". thegreystonemansion.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ "Dillard-Lawson House · Omeka at Auburn". omeka.lib.auburn.edu. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ "Alabama's Youngest Black Female Judge Sworn In - Alabama News". Alabama News. 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
- ^ WAFB Staff. "Southern University graduate makes Alabama history as youngest African-American female judge". Retrieved 2018-02-02.
