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List of first women lawyers and judges in Michigan

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This is a list of the first women lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Michigan. 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 Michigan's history

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Sarah Killgore Wertman: First female lawyer in Michigan (1871)
Anna Diggs Taylor: First African American female Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (1979)

Lawyers

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State judges

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Federal judges

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Attorney General of Michigan

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Solicitor General of Michigan

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United States Attorney

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Assistant United States Attorney

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  • First female: Ella Mae Backus in 1923[35]

Judge Advocate General

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County Prosecutor

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Political Office

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Michigan State Bar Association

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  • First female president: Julia Donovan Darlow (1971) in 1986[41]
  • First African American female president: Victoria Roberts in 1996[42]

Faculty

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  • First female law school dean: Joan Mahoney in 1998[43]

Firsts in local history

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See also

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Other topics of interest

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References

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  1. ^ The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 1982.
  2. ^ Sharlow, Carrie (March 2017). "Michigan Lawyers in History: Theresa Dolan". Michigan Bar Journal: 48–49.
  3. ^ Smith, J. Clay Jr. (1999-01-01). Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844–1944. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0812216857.
  4. ^ a b c d e Atencio, Dolores S. (2023). "LUMINARIAS: AN EMPIRICAL PORTRAIT OF THE FIRST GENERATION OF LATINA LAWYERS 1880–1980" (PDF). Chicanx-Latinx Law Review. 39 (1).
  5. ^ The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 1991.
  6. ^ Staff, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2003-10-13). "Judge Geraldine Bledsoe Ford, 76". Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
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  8. ^ a b "Mary Coleman". www.micourthistory.org. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  9. ^ a b c d "Dorothy Comstock Riley". www.micourthistory.org. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  10. ^ a b Fresard, Patricia P. (February 2001). "FEATURE: ALICE IN WONDERLAND: THE CHILD AS COMPLAINANT IN THE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CASE". MI Bar JNL. 80: 60.
  11. ^ a b Upon Fresard being elected as a Judge of the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County, Michigan
  12. ^ a b "Fresard appointed Third Circuit chief judge > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  13. ^ "Karen Hood, Michigan's first Black woman elected to Court of Appeals, dead at 68". Associated Press. 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  14. ^ Stange, Mary Zeiss; Oyster, Carol K.; Sloan, Jane E. (2011-02-23). Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. SAGE. ISBN 978-1-4129-7685-5.
  15. ^ "First Muslim Woman Takes the Bench in Detroit". hwpi.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  16. ^ "Judge in Detroit is Not First Muslim Woman Judge in U.S." hwpi.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  17. ^ Wilkinson, Sook (2015-04-01). Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-3974-9.
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  19. ^ a b "Pathbreaker: Dearborn Heights woman becomes Michigan's first Palestinian American judge". www.deadlinedetroit.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
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  21. ^ "Hon. Allie Greenleaf Maldonado to Be Sworn in as First Tribal Citizen on Court of Appeals". www.courts.michigan.gov. March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  22. ^ "Michigan's first black female federal judge dies at 84". Detroit News. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  23. ^ "Senate confirms first openly lesbian federal judge in Michigan". MSNBC. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
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  25. ^ "A 90 Minutes Program | Judge Judith E. Levy, Nov. 2 - Ohio University | College of Arts & Sciences". Ohio University | College of Arts & Sciences. 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  26. ^ Burke, Melissa Nann. "Senate confirms Oakland County judge, first Chaldean, to federal bench". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  27. ^ "First Michigan judge of South Asian descent sworn as federal district court judge for Eastern District of Michigan". mlive. 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
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  35. ^ Stevens, Ruth S. (2016). "Assistant US Attorney Ella Mae Backus: "A most important figure in the legal profession in the Western District of Michigan"". Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU.
  36. ^ "The judge who let survivors speak". BBC News. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  37. ^ a b "Emelia Christine Schaub (1891–1995)" (PDF). Michigan Hall of Fame.
  38. ^ a b "Michigan Legal Milestones: 19. Emelia Schaub". www.michbar.org. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  39. ^ a b "Kym Worthy: The Toughest Woman In Detroit". Essence. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  40. ^ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (2018-08-08). "Meet Rashida Tlaib, who is poised to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress". Fox News. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
  41. ^ Levy, Douglas (2010-08-27). "Julia Donovan Darlow: Women in the Law 2010". Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  42. ^ Welch, Janet (2012). "CHOOSING TO LEAD, CHOSEN TO LEAD: THE PATH TO BAR LEADERSHIP POWER FOR WOMEN IN MICHIGAN". Michigan State Law Review.
  43. ^ "History". Law School. 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
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  46. ^ "Allegan General HospitalAllegan General Hospital Awards Three Extraordinary Women in the Community at Girls' Night Out". www.aghosp.org. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  47. ^ "Bay County's first female judge, Karen Tighe, retiring from Probate Court bench after 20 years". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  48. ^ SWIDWA, JULIE. "A trip back in time". The Herald Palladium. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  49. ^ Writer, MARK HARPER / H-P Staff. "Family Court lawyer will serve as first black judge in Berrien County". The Herald Palladium. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  50. ^ "Calhoun County elects first female judge in 54 years". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  51. ^ "Tomak takes oath as first female District Court judge in Calhoun County". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  52. ^ "Honorable Susan L. Dobrich". justicespeakersinstitute.com. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  53. ^ SWIDWA, JULIE. "Judge Dobrich will oversee 3 Cass courts". The Herald Palladium. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  54. ^ "90th District Court: Kerry Zahner Sworn In As Attorney Magistrate for District Court". Emmet County (Issuu). Winter 2015. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  55. ^ Hansen, Connor. "Chippewa County mourns passing of Judge Elizabeth Church". WPBN. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  56. ^ "Clare County Review January 2 Page 9". ccr.stparchive.com. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
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  63. ^ She was referred to as "Mrs. W.A. Leet" in several sources.
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  66. ^ Stewart, Danny (4 August 2016). "First Woman as Ingham county Prosecutor". 99.1 WFMK. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  67. ^ Kaminski, Kyle (24 October 2018). "From success to shame — and back again". City Pulse. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  68. ^ "Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka names Kati Rezmierski his chief assistant prosecutor". mlive. 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  69. ^ "Smith Haughey celebrates Women's History Month". www.shrr.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  70. ^ "Estranged husband kills judge in her chambers". cdnc.ucr.edu. October 20, 1988. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  71. ^ Group, Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe Newspaper Company-Washington Post Writers (28 May 1989). "NO ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE FOR MURDER". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-02-26. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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  73. ^ Pelham, Dennis. "Natalia Koselka praised in final session of judicial career". The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  74. ^ Huhman, Lonnie. "Tamaris Henagan-Sprow is first African-American attorney in Adrian". The Daily Telegram. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  75. ^ Post, The Livingston (2018-02-15). "District Court judge throws her hat into ring for new Circuit Court position". Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  76. ^ "Macomb to get first black judge". Retrieved 2018-01-12.
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  78. ^ Kisonas, Ray. "Influential Women: Patricia Costello". Monroe News. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
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  82. ^ "Detroit-area judge says 'Supreme Court needs me'". MLive.com. Associated Press. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  83. ^ "Jessica R. Cooper | Prosecutor". www.oakgov.com. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  84. ^ Gamble, Audra. "Ottawa County courts piloting robot greeter". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  85. ^ "Virtual Investiture Ceremony for Juanita Bocanegra". Ottawa County, Michigan. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  86. ^ "Brickley Van Buren's first female judge | Leader Publications". www.leaderpub.com. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  87. ^ "Washtenaw's first female judge dies at age 70 > Washtenaw County Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  88. ^ Harley, Rachel Brett; MacDowell, Betty (1992). Michigan Women: Firsts and Founders. Michigan Womens Studies Assn Incorporated. ISBN 9780961939014.
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  91. ^ "Los Angeles Herald 16 December 1914 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
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  93. ^ Crump-Gibson, Jehan (May 2018). "A Tribute to Firsts: Black Female Lawyers in Michigan" (PDF). Michigan Bar Journal.
  94. ^ "Echartea first Latino appointed 36th District Court magistrate > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  95. ^ "Recognizing diversity and inclusion at Third Circuit Court: Arab American Heritage Month > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  96. ^ Benavides-Colón, Amelia. "University of Detroit Mercy law school names professor as dean". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
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