“This Women’s History month we would like to acknowledge some of the many notable women who have broken barriers- gaining equality and opening doors for women in the legal field.  It is important that we acknowledge these heroes and do our best to further their cause.”

-Lisa Duffee

Because Duffee + Eitzen is a woman-owned firm, we have great respect for the pioneers who paved the way for countless rising female lawyers. We would like to give a hi-five to the following who made invaluable contributions to the field of law.

Hover or click over the below photos for information

Margaret Brent

First female to practice law in Colonial America, in 1638. She tried more than 100 cases in Maryland and Virginia courts.

Arabella “Belle” Babb Mansfield

First woman admitted to a state bar in the United States- in 1869.

Ada Kepley

First female to graduate from law school (which is now Northwestern School of Law), in 1870.

Alta Hulett

Was admitted to the state bar as the first woman attorney in Illinois- 1873.

Sandra Day O’Connor

First woman justice to serve on the Supreme Court.

Charlotte E. Ray

First African-American woman lawyer- in 1872.

Myra Bradwell

Founder of “Chicago Legal News” and “Law relating to Women” columnist, Myra Bradwell appealed to the US Supreme Court in what many believe to be the first sexual discrimination case in America jurisprudence, in 1873.

Belva Ann Lockwood

First female member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, admitted in 1879.

Lyda Burton Conley

The first Native American female lawyer in America- 1902.

Janet Reno

First female Attorney General of the United States, and longest serving Attorney General.

Genevieve Rose Cline

First female federal judge in America- 1928. She served for 25 years.

Florence Ellinwood Allen

First woman in the US to be appointed Assistant Prosecutor- 1919,
First woman to sit on a state supreme court- 1922,
First female federal appellate court judge in the US- 1934

Sarah Tilghman Hughes

First (and only woman in US history) to swear in a United States President- Lyndon B Johnson.

Lyda Burton Conley

The first Native American female lawyer in America- 1902.

Carolyn Wright

Prior Chief justice of the 5th District Court of appeals.First African American woman to serve in Texas at this level.

WOMEN IN LAW

Margaret Brent
First female to practice law in Colonial America, in 1638. She tried more than 100 cases in Maryland and Virginia courts.

Arabella “Belle” Babb Mansfield
First woman admitted to a state bar in the United States- in 1869.

Ada Kepley
First female to graduate from law school (which is now Northwestern School of Law), in 1870.

Alta Hulett
Was admitted to the state bar as the first woman attorney in Illinois- 1873.

Charlotte E. Ray
First African-American woman lawyer- in 1872.

Myra Bradwell
Founder of “Chicago Legal News” and “Law relating to Women” columnist, Myra Bradwell appealed to the US Supreme Court in what many believe to be the first sexual discrimination case in America jurisprudence, in 1873.

Belva Ann Lockwood
First female member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, admitted in 1879.

Lyda Burton Conley
The first Native American female lawyer in America- 1902.

Genevieve Rose Cline
First female federal judge in America- 1928. She served for 25 years.

Florence Ellinwood Allen
First woman in the US to be appointed Assistant Prosecutor- 1919,
First woman to sit on a state supreme court- 1922,
First female federal appellate court judge in the US- 1934

Sarah Tilghman Hughes
First (and only woman in US history) to swear in a United States President- Lyndon B Johnson.

Sarah Weddington
Youngest person ever to win a Supreme Court case… and this case was Roe V. Wade!

Sandra Day O’Connor
First woman justice to serve on the Supreme Court.

Janet Reno
First female Attorney General of the United States, and longest serving Attorney General.

Carolyn Wright

Prior Chief justice of the 5th District Court of appeals.First African American woman to serve in Texas at this level.

*This list is by no means exhaustive- it is merely a sampling of the remarkable women who have made a difference to women in law.