Women in Law

When Portia stood up in the court of Venice as Mercy's high advocate, her pallor framed in a musty periwig, her slimness swaddled in the stiff robes of Justice, she had no right to be there. She had never been admitted to the bar. The publicity given to the admittance of Miss Susan Brandeis (see above) to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court directed interest last week to the history of women in the Law.

At the Bar. Belva Ann Lockwood was the first woman admitted to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court. Her admission created a national sensation. Later, in 1894, she was refused admittance to the Virginia bar on the ground of her sex; and the refusal was sustained by the Virginia Supreme Court. Myra Bradwell was the first woman practitioner. She was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1869. Since then, more than 1,700 women have been admitted to practice in various sfates and Federal jurisdictions. Every state except Delaware has passed legislation granting women the privilege of applying for admission to the bar. Delaware has never enacted such legislation; and no woman has ever applied for admission to the Delaware bar. Whether or not one could, is said to be at the present time an open question.

At Law Schools. Harvard, Columbia and the University of Virginia have steadfastly refused to admit women to their law schools. A few years ago, a group of prominent women, headed by Mrs. Charles Tiffany and Mrs. Louis Slade, petitioned the trustees of Columbia to admit women to the law school. The only concession, however, was admission of women to the summer school. At Harvard, some professors give private instruction to women. These classes are largely made up of the wives of students at the Harvard Law School.

Women Lawyers. Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt of California, an Assistant U. S. Attorney General, is one of the best-known women lawyers in the U. S. She was appointed by President Harding, has now complete charge of all cases involving violation of the Volstead Act. Another Assistant U. S. Attorney General, and the first woman to hold this post, was Mrs. Annette Abbott Adams, also of California, appointed by President Wilson.

Mrs. Florence E. Allen is Judge of the Ohio Supreme Court; Mary M. Bartelme is Associate Judge of the Chicago Juvenile Court; Jean Hortense Norris is a New York City Magistrate; Reah Whitehead is in the Juvenile Court of Seattle.