Is it time? ⏲️
I have been waiting *all day* to tell you the story of Sarah T. Hughes –
1st woman federal judge in Texas, 3rd in the federal judiciary as a whole, and the only woman to have sworn in a U.S. President (as you might recall). 👇
Let the thread commence...
(⚖️🧵)
I have been waiting *all day* to tell you the story of Sarah T. Hughes –
1st woman federal judge in Texas, 3rd in the federal judiciary as a whole, and the only woman to have sworn in a U.S. President (as you might recall). 👇
Let the thread commence...
(⚖️🧵)
Sarah Tilghman was born in 1896 in Baltimore. ☀️
After college, she spent 2 years teaching science - in her words, "about the only thing a girl could do at that time was to teach school."
She then enrolled at @gwlaw and attended at night, commuting by . . . canoe (!). 🛶
(2/x)
After college, she spent 2 years teaching science - in her words, "about the only thing a girl could do at that time was to teach school."
She then enrolled at @gwlaw and attended at night, commuting by . . . canoe (!). 🛶
(2/x)
By canoe?! (you might ask). By canoe! (I say).
You see, Sarah lived on the other side of the Pataomac in a tent. ⛺️ And so naturally, she commuted by canoe.
And if all that wasn't cool enough, during this period she served as a member of the DC police force during the day. 👮♀️
You see, Sarah lived on the other side of the Pataomac in a tent. ⛺️ And so naturally, she commuted by canoe.
And if all that wasn't cool enough, during this period she served as a member of the DC police force during the day. 👮♀️
During law school, she met George Ernest Hughes of Texas and the two married in 1922. 💒 They then moved to Dallas and Sarah joined a law firm.
From 1931-1935, she also served as an elected Texas state representative - newspapers called her the state's most effective rep! 📰
From 1931-1935, she also served as an elected Texas state representative - newspapers called her the state's most effective rep! 📰
Then in 1935, the Governor appointed Sarah to the bench of the 14th district court in Dallas – making her the 1st woman state district judge in Texas! ⭐️
In 1936, Sarah was elected in her own right and would go on to be reelected 6 times (!) - the last in 1960. 👩⚖️
(5/x)
In 1936, Sarah was elected in her own right and would go on to be reelected 6 times (!) - the last in 1960. 👩⚖️
(5/x)
Those weren't Sarah's only experiences with elections . . . 🗳️
In 1952, Sarah received a token nomination for vice president during the Democratic Nat'l Convention.
She said: “I knew I had absolutely no chance, but it was doing something I would like to see more women do.” ☑️
In 1952, Sarah received a token nomination for vice president during the Democratic Nat'l Convention.
She said: “I knew I had absolutely no chance, but it was doing something I would like to see more women do.” ☑️
Sarah was a big champion of women’s rights generally, and jury service for women specifically. 🙋♀️
In 1954, while still a state district judge, she was key (🔑) in the passage of a constitutional amendment that allowed women to serve on juries in Texas.
(7/x)
In 1954, while still a state district judge, she was key (🔑) in the passage of a constitutional amendment that allowed women to serve on juries in Texas.
(7/x)
In 1961, Sarah asked Senator Ralph Yarborough and VP Lyndon B. Johnson to recommend her for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
The Attorney General (RFK) was not so keen on it, given her age – Sarah by this time was 65. 🤨
(She's a spring 🐔 to me!)
The Attorney General (RFK) was not so keen on it, given her age – Sarah by this time was 65. 🤨
(She's a spring 🐔 to me!)
But LBJ was in Sarah's corner (as was 📢 of the 🏠 Sam Rayburn). And so President Kennedy appointed her in Oct. 1961, making Sarah Hughes the 1st woman to serve as a federal judge in Texas!
It would also make her the only woman judge that JFK would put on the bench . . .
It would also make her the only woman judge that JFK would put on the bench . . .
She became a national figure after JFK was assassinated in Dallas in 1963 and LBJ chose her to administer the oath of office.
Sarah was preparing to leave for Austin to see JFK's speech that night when she was asked to come to Love Field to swear in LBJ aboard Air Force One.
Sarah was preparing to leave for Austin to see JFK's speech that night when she was asked to come to Love Field to swear in LBJ aboard Air Force One.
Sarah went on to have a notable judicial career.
Her decisions upheld federal civil rights laws regarding equal pay for women and improved conditions for inmates in the Dallas County Jail.
She was also a member of the 3-judge district court panel to rule on Roe v. Wade in 1970.
Her decisions upheld federal civil rights laws regarding equal pay for women and improved conditions for inmates in the Dallas County Jail.
She was also a member of the 3-judge district court panel to rule on Roe v. Wade in 1970.
Sarah took senior status in 1975 and passed away in 1985.
Reflecting back later in life, she said: “It all depends on whether you’re willing to work hard enough to get what you want, not what stands in your way.”
We salute you, Judge Sarah T. Hughes! 👩⚖️❤️
(fin)
Reflecting back later in life, she said: “It all depends on whether you’re willing to work hard enough to get what you want, not what stands in your way.”
We salute you, Judge Sarah T. Hughes! 👩⚖️❤️
(fin)
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