[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki43\/list-of-first-women-lawyers-and-judges-in-michigan\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki43\/list-of-first-women-lawyers-and-judges-in-michigan\/","headline":"List of first women lawyers and judges in Michigan","name":"List of first women lawyers and judges in Michigan","description":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This is a list of the first women lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Michigan. It includes","datePublished":"2020-09-16","dateModified":"2020-09-16","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki43\/author\/lordneo\/#Person","name":"lordneo","url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki43\/author\/lordneo\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c9645c498c9701c88b89b8537773dd7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c9645c498c9701c88b89b8537773dd7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Enzyklop\u00e4die","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/wiki4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/download.jpg","url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/wiki4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/download.jpg","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/f\/f7\/SARAH_KILLGORE_WERTMAN_A_woman_of_the_century_%28page_759_crop%29.jpg\/181px-SARAH_KILLGORE_WERTMAN_A_woman_of_the_century_%28page_759_crop%29.jpg","url":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/f\/f7\/SARAH_KILLGORE_WERTMAN_A_woman_of_the_century_%28page_759_crop%29.jpg\/181px-SARAH_KILLGORE_WERTMAN_A_woman_of_the_century_%28page_759_crop%29.jpg","height":"250","width":"181"},"url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki43\/list-of-first-women-lawyers-and-judges-in-michigan\/","wordCount":14827,"articleBody":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis 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.Table of ContentsFirsts in Michigan’s history[edit]Lawyers[edit]State judges[edit]Federal judges[edit]Attorney General of Michigan[edit]Solicitor General of Michigan[edit]United States Attorney[edit]Assistant United States Attorney[edit]Judge Advocate General[edit]County Prosecutor[edit]Political Office[edit]Michigan State Bar Association[edit]Faculty[edit]Firsts in local history[edit]See also[edit]Other topics of interest[edit]References[edit]Firsts in Michigan’s history[edit]  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[edit]State judges[edit]Federal judges[edit]Attorney General of Michigan[edit]Solicitor General of Michigan[edit]United States Attorney[edit]First Muslim American (female): Saima Mohsin in 2021[28][29]Assistant United States Attorney[edit]First female: Ella Mae Backus in 1923[30]Judge Advocate General[edit]County Prosecutor[edit]Political Office[edit]Michigan State Bar Association[edit]First female president: Julia Donovan Darlow (1971) in 1986[36]First African American female president: Victoria Roberts in 1996[37]Faculty[edit]First female law school dean: Joan Mahoney in 1998[38]Firsts in local history[edit]Patricia “Pat” Micklow:[39][40] First female judge in Upper Michigan (1987)Margaret Zuzich Bakker (1978):[41] First female district court judge in Allegan County, MichiganKaren Tighe (1976):[42] First female judge in Bay County, MichiganDora Whitney:[43] First female lawyer in Berrien County, MichiganMabel Mayfield:[44] First African American female judge in Berrien County, Michigan (2000)Mary Coleman:[45] First female judge in Calhoun County, MichiganTracie Tomak:[46] First female district court judge in Calhoun County, Michigan (2018)Susan L. Dobrich:[47][48] First female to serve as the County Prosecutor for Cass County, Michigan (1984)Kerry Zahner:[49] First female Public Defender for Charlevoix County, MichiganElizabeth Church:[50] First female judge in Chippewa County, MichiganMichelle Ambrozaitis:[51] First female to serve as the County Prosecutor in Clare County, Michigan (2009)Alice Day Gardner:[52] First female lawyer in Genesee County, MichiganElza Papp (1947):[53] First female to serve as the Assistant Prosecutor (1947) and district court judge (1965) in Genesee County, MichiganArthalu “Artie” Lancaster (1968):[53] First female to serve as the President of the Genesee County Bar Association, Michigan (1987-1988)Edwyna Goodwin Anderson:[53] First African American female admitted to the Genesee County Bar Association, Michigan (1974)Karen McDonald Lopez:[53] First female (and African American female) to serve as the Flint City Attorney in Genesee County, MichiganMelanie Stanton (1989):[54] First female judge in Grand Traverse County, MichiganAmelia C. Leet (1894):[55][56][57] First female lawyer in Gratiot County, Michigan[58]Carolyn Stell:[59] First female judge in Ingham County, Michigan (1983)Carol A. Siemon:[60] First female to serve as the County Prosecutor for Ingram County, Michigan (2016)Shauna Dunnings:[61] First female and first African American to serve as a Probate Judge in Ingham County, Michigan (2019)Kati Rezmierski:[62] First female to serve as the Chief Assistant Prosecutor for Jackson County, Michigan (2013)Elizabeth “Bessie” Eaglesfield:[63] First female lawyer in Grand Rapids, Michigan [Kent County, Michigan]Carol Irons:[64][65] First female judge in Kent County, Michigan (1982)Susan Sniegowski:[66] First female judge in Mason County and Lake County, Michigan (2014)Emelia Christine Schaub:[32][33] First female to serve as the County Prosecutor for Leelanau County, Michigan (1936)Natalia Koselka:[67] First female judge in Lenawee County, Michigan (1982)Tamaris Henagan-Sprow (2017):[68] First female lawyer in Adrian, Michigan [Lenawee County, Michigan]Suzanne Geddis:[69] First female elected as a district court judge in Livingston County, Michigan (2004)Sheila A. Miller (1990):[70] First African American female judge in Macomb County, Michigan (2006)Patricia “Pat” Micklow:[39][40] First female to serve as an assistant prosecutor in Marquette County, Michigan. She was also the first female to serve as a Judge of the 96th District Court for Marquette County, Michigan (1987).Susan Sniegowski:[66] First female judge in Mason County and Lake County, Michigan (2014). She was also the first female to serve as the Prosecuting Attorney for Mason County, Michigan (2005).Patricia Costello (1950):[71][72] First female judge in Monroe County, MichiganRuth Thompson (1924):[73][74] First female lawyer in Muskegon County, MichiganDenise Langford Morris:[75] First African American female (and African American in general) circuit court judge in Oakland County, MichiganJessica R. Cooper:[76] First female to serve as the Prosecutor for Oakland County, Michigan (2008)Cora VandeWater:[77] First female judge in Ottawa County, Michigan (1933)Juanita F. Bocanegra:[78] First Latino American female judge in Ottawa County, Michigan (2020)Kathleen M. Brickley:[79] First female judge in Van Buren County, Michigan (2012)Judith James Carlson:[80] First female judge in Washtenaw County, Michigan (1984)Nancy Cornelia Wheeler (n\u00e9e Francis):[81] First African American female judge in Washtenaw County, Michigan (1990)Betty R. Widgeon:[82] First female (and African American female) to serve as a Judge of the 14-A District Court in Washtenaw County, Michigan (1994)Martha Strickland Clark (1887):[83] First female lawyer in Detroit, Michigan [Wayne County, Michigan]Clara T. Livermore:[84] First female judge in Detroit, Michigan (1914) [Wayne County, Michigan]Lila Neuenfelt:[6] First female to serve on the  Wayne County Circuit CourtMarjorie McGovern:[85] First African American female to serve as the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Wayne County, Michigan (1961). She was also the first African American female to serve as a referee in the Wayne County Probate Court (1957).Kym Worthy:[34] First female (and African American) to serve as the County Prosecutor for Wayne County, Michigan (2004)Laura A. Echartea:[86] First Latino American female (and Latino American in general) to serve as a Judge of the Thirty-Sixth Judicial District (2011) [Wayne County, Michigan]Yvonna Abraham:[16] First Palestinian American (female) to serve on the  Wayne County Third Circuit Court (2021)Jelani Jefferson Exum:[87] First African American (female) to serve as the Dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (2021)See also[edit]Other topics of interest[edit]References[edit]^ The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 1982.^ Sharlow, Carrie (March 2017). “Michigan Lawyers in History: Theresa Dolan”. Michigan Bar Journal: 48\u201349.^ Smith, J. Clay Jr. (1999-01-01). Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844\u20131944. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN\u00a00812216857.^ The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 1991.^ Staff, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2003-10-13). “Judge Geraldine Bledsoe Ford, 76”. Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2018-02-01.^ a b c “Women’s History Timeline”. www.michiganwomenshalloffame.org. Retrieved 2018-01-10.^ a b “Mary Coleman”. www.micourthistory.org. Retrieved 2019-01-12.^ a b “Dorothy Comstock Riley”. www.micourthistory.org. Retrieved 2019-01-12.^ Fresard, Patricia P. (February 2001). “FEATURE: ALICE IN WONDERLAND: THE CHILD AS COMPLAINANT IN THE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CASE”. MI Bar JNL. 80: 60.^ Upon Fresard being elected as a Judge of the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County, Michigan^ Stange, Mary Zeiss; Oyster, Carol K.; Sloan, Jane E. (2011-02-23). Encyclopedia of Women in Today’s World. SAGE. ISBN\u00a0978-1-4129-7685-5.^ “First Muslim Woman Takes the Bench in Detroit”. hwpi.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-26.^ “Judge in Detroit is Not First Muslim Woman Judge in U.S.” hwpi.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-26.^ Wilkinson, Sook (2015-04-01). Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest. Wayne State University Press. ISBN\u00a0978-0-8143-3974-9.^ WLMagazine (2019-02-25). “History on the Bench: Judge Christina Elmore”. Women’s Lifestyle Magazine. Retrieved 2019-03-04.^ a b “Pathbreaker: Dearborn Heights woman becomes Michigan’s first Palestinian American judge”. www.deadlinedetroit.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.^ “Whitmer appoints first Black woman to Michigan’s top court”. AP NEWS. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2022-11-23.^ “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.^ “Michigan’s first black female federal judge dies at 84”. Detroit News. Retrieved 2018-01-19.^ “Senate confirms first openly lesbian federal judge in Michigan”. MSNBC. Retrieved 2018-01-15.^ “Federal judge cries after hearing Supreme Court ruling”. Detroit News. Retrieved 2018-01-19.^ “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.^ Burke, Melissa Nann. “Senate confirms Oakland County judge, first Chaldean, to federal bench”. The Detroit News. Retrieved 2022-04-27.^ “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.^ Burke, Melissa Nann. “U.S. Senate confirms Michigan’s Davis to 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals”. The Detroit News. Retrieved 2022-06-10.^ a b “Former Governors – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm Biography”. www.michigan.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-19.^ “First Arab-American Muslim Woman Argues at U.S. High Court (1)”. news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2022-03-08.^ Warikoo, Niraj. “Saima Mohsin to be 1st Muslim US attorney next month”. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-26.^ “Saima Mohsin RLAW ’94 to Become First Muslim U.S. Attorney”. Rutgers Law. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-03-26.^ 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.^ “The judge who let survivors speak”. BBC News. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-12-07.^ a b “Emelia Christine Schaub (1891\u20131995)” (PDF). Michigan Hall of Fame.^ a b “Michigan Legal Milestones: 19. Emelia Schaub”. www.michbar.org. Retrieved 2020-02-27.^ a b “Kym Worthy: The Toughest Woman In Detroit”. Essence. Retrieved 2019-06-27.^ 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.^ Levy, Douglas (2010-08-27). “Julia Donovan Darlow: Women in the Law 2010”. Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2019-01-02.^ Welch, Janet (2012). “CHOOSING TO LEAD, CHOSEN TO LEAD: THE PATH TO BAR LEADERSHIP POWER FOR WOMEN IN MICHIGAN”. Michigan State Law Review.^ “History”. Law School. 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2022-03-15.^ a b “Micklow is U.P.’s First Woman Judge”. Newspapers.com. March 1, 1987. Retrieved 2019-07-10.^ a b “Women in law, Patricia Micklow”. WJMN – UPMatters.com. 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2020-02-27.^ “Allegan General HospitalAllegan General Hospital Awards Three Extraordinary Women in the Community at Girls’ Night Out”. www.aghosp.org. Retrieved 2018-02-12.^ “Bay County’s first female judge, Karen Tighe, retiring from Probate Court bench after 20 years”. MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-04.^ SWIDWA, JULIE. “A trip back in time”. The Herald Palladium. Retrieved 2019-10-08.^ 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.^ “Calhoun County elects first female judge in 54 years”. Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved 2018-01-04.^ “Tomak takes oath as first female District Court judge in Calhoun County”. Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved 2019-01-10.^ “Honorable Susan L. Dobrich”. justicespeakersinstitute.com. Retrieved 2019-06-27.^ SWIDWA, JULIE. “Judge Dobrich will oversee 3 Cass courts”. The Herald Palladium. Retrieved 2019-06-27.^ “90th District Court: Kerry Zahner Sworn In As Attorney Magistrate for District Court”. Emmet County (Issuu). Winter 2015. Retrieved 2019-03-26.^ Hansen, Connor. “Chippewa County mourns passing of Judge Elizabeth Church”. WPBN. Retrieved 2018-01-06.^ “Clare County Review January 2 Page 9”. ccr.stparchive.com. Retrieved 2020-02-27.^ “local history”. The Batavian. Retrieved 2017-10-15.^ a b c d “History”. www.gcbalaw.org. Retrieved 2019-01-06.^ WALTON, MICHAEL (December 28, 2012). “Grand Traverse County’s first female judge is sworn in”. Traverse City Record-Eagle.^ “Ithaca Has First Woman Lawyer”. Newspapers.com. December 20, 1894. Retrieved 2019-02-27.^ Smith, Frank Charles; Proctor, Lucien Brock; Chapin, Heman Gerald; Harvey, Richard Selden (1895). The American Lawyer. Stumpf & Steurer.^ Tucker, Willard D. (1913). “Gratiot County, Michigan”. Michigan County Histories.^ She was referred to as “Mrs. W.A. Leet” in several sources.^ “Women’s History Month: Celebrating Lansing’s pioneers”. Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2018-12-27.^ Stewart, Danny. “First Woman as Ingham county Prosecutor”. 99.1 WFMK. Retrieved 2019-06-27.^ Kaminski, Kyle. “From success to shame \u2014 and back again”. City Pulse. Retrieved 2020-01-27.^ “Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka names Kati Rezmierski his chief assistant prosecutor”. mlive. 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2020-02-27.^ “Smith Haughey celebrates Women’s History Month”. www.shrr.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.^ “Estranged husband kills judge in her chambers”. cdnc.ucr.edu. October 20, 1988. Retrieved 2019-02-26.^ Group, Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe Newspaper Company-Washington Post Writers. “NO ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE FOR MURDER”. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-02-26.^ a b Klevorn, Patti. “A Mason-Lake first: Susan Sniegowski takes oath as county’s first female judge”. Shoreline Media Group. Retrieved 2018-12-08.^ Pelham, Dennis. “Natalia Koselka praised in final session of judicial career”. The Daily Telegram – Adrian, MI. Retrieved 2019-03-04.^ Huhman, Lonnie. “Tamaris Henagan-Sprow is first African-American attorney in Adrian”. The Daily Telegram. Retrieved 2018-01-11.^ Post, The Livingston (2018-02-15). “District Court judge throws her hat into ring for new Circuit Court position”. Retrieved 2019-04-12.^ “Macomb to get first black judge”. Retrieved 2018-01-12.^ Kisonas, Ray. “Influential Women: Patricia Costello”. Monroe News. Retrieved 2018-01-06.^ “Patricia Costello (1928-2018)”. Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2018-12-07.^ “THOMPSON, Ruth | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives”. history.house.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-14.^ Wasniewski, Matthew Andrew (2006). Women in Congress, 1917\u20132006. Government Printing Office. p.\u00a0289. ISBN\u00a09780160767531. first female lawyer in county california.^ “Detroit-area judge says ‘Supreme Court needs me’“. MLive.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2019-01-17.^ “Jessica R. Cooper | Prosecutor”. www.oakgov.com. Retrieved 2020-02-27.^ Gamble, Audra. “Ottawa County courts piloting robot greeter”. Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 2018-12-08.^ “Virtual Investiture Ceremony for Juanita Bocanegra”. Ottawa County, Michigan. Retrieved 2021-08-11.^ “Brickley Van Buren’s first female judge | Leader Publications”. www.leaderpub.com. Retrieved 2018-02-09.^ “Washtenaw’s first female judge dies at age 70 > Washtenaw County Legal News”. legalnews.com. Retrieved 2018-01-06.^ Harley, Rachel Brett; MacDowell, Betty (1992). Michigan Women: Firsts and Founders. Michigan Womens Studies Assn Incorporated. ISBN\u00a09780961939014.^ Harley, Rachel B.; MacDowell, Betty (1995). Michigan Women: Firsts and Founder. Michigan Women’s Studies Association. ISBN\u00a0978-0-9619390-2-1.^ “Martha Strickland Clark (1853 – 1935)” (PDF). Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.^ “Los Angeles Herald 16 December 1914 \u2014 California Digital Newspaper Collection”. cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-26.^ Littlejohn, Edward J.; Hobson, Donald L. (1987). Black Lawyers, Law Practice, and Bar Associations–1844 to 1970: A Michigan History. Wolverine Bar Association.^ “Echartea first Latino appointed 36th District Court magistrate > Detroit Legal News”. legalnews.com. Retrieved 2019-01-17.^ Benavides-Col\u00f3n, Amelia. “University of Detroit Mercy law school names professor as dean”. The Detroit News. 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