Do I have a story for you!
On this week’s episode of Judicial History, we meet Burnita Shelton Matthews – the first woman to serve as a U.S. District Judge. We also have love ❤️, perseverance 💪, and even a cameo by Amelia Earhart 🛩️.
What are we waiting for?
(⚖️🧵, 1/x)
On this week’s episode of Judicial History, we meet Burnita Shelton Matthews – the first woman to serve as a U.S. District Judge. We also have love ❤️, perseverance 💪, and even a cameo by Amelia Earhart 🛩️.
What are we waiting for?
(⚖️🧵, 1/x)
Burnita Shelton was born in 1894 – one of 6 children and the only 👧.
She gravitated toward law but her father pushed her to study music as it was more "ladylike." So she attended conservatory 🎼, but asked relatives to send her law books to read in her spare time ... 📚
(2/x)
She gravitated toward law but her father pushed her to study music as it was more "ladylike." So she attended conservatory 🎼, but asked relatives to send her law books to read in her spare time ... 📚
(2/x)
Soon after, Burnita married Percy Matthews 💒, who then enlisted to fight in WWI. Burnita traveled to DC so that she could attend one of the few law schools that would accept 👩.
When her father found out, he had a change of ❤️ and offered to pay her tuition, but she refused!
When her father found out, he had a change of ❤️ and offered to pay her tuition, but she refused!
She supported herself by working at the Veterans Administration during the day & attended National University Law School (now @gwlaw) at 🌛.
She graduated with a Master of Laws in 1920. 👩🎓
(Unlike our friend Judge Hughes, she did *not* commute by 🛶.)
She graduated with a Master of Laws in 1920. 👩🎓
(Unlike our friend Judge Hughes, she did *not* commute by 🛶.)
https://twitter.com/marinklevy/status/1438661321176793090?s=20
Upon graduation, the VA told Burnita they wouldn't hire a woman for their legal dept.🙅♀️
So what did our heroine do? She and 2 other women attorneys founded their own law firm!
And after being rejected by the DC Bar Assoc., she helped found the National Assoc. of Women Lawyers!
So what did our heroine do? She and 2 other women attorneys founded their own law firm!
And after being rejected by the DC Bar Assoc., she helped found the National Assoc. of Women Lawyers!
But that’s not all!
While in law school, Burnita became involved with the National Woman’s Party (NWP), a women’s suffrage organization, and picketed the White House on weekends, calling for women to have the right to vote!🗳️
She started serving as the NWP’s counsel in 1921...
While in law school, Burnita became involved with the National Woman’s Party (NWP), a women’s suffrage organization, and picketed the White House on weekends, calling for women to have the right to vote!🗳️
She started serving as the NWP’s counsel in 1921...
In her role, this pathmarker drafted legislation that states passed, allowing:
- women to serve as jurors in DC 🙋♀️
- women teachers in MD and NJ to be paid equal 💰 with men teachers
- married women in SC to sue w/out their husband’s permission.⚖️
But that's still not all!
- women to serve as jurors in DC 🙋♀️
- women teachers in MD and NJ to be paid equal 💰 with men teachers
- married women in SC to sue w/out their husband’s permission.⚖️
But that's still not all!
During this time, Burnita also helped Alice Paul, head of the NWP, draft the original version of the Equal Rights Amendment to guarantee women constitutional protection from discrimination.
(And here’s Burnita, with Amelia Earhart 🛩️ at the White House, advocating for the ERA!)
(And here’s Burnita, with Amelia Earhart 🛩️ at the White House, advocating for the ERA!)
But that's not all Burnita did for the NWP!
Remember how the Supreme Court stands where the Old Brick Capitol used to be? 🏛️
Well that building was being used at the time by none other than the NWP, and the Government acquired it by eminent domain . . .
Remember how the Supreme Court stands where the Old Brick Capitol used to be? 🏛️
Well that building was being used at the time by none other than the NWP, and the Government acquired it by eminent domain . . .
https://twitter.com/marinklevy/status/1437948686982696966?s=20
And the Government tried to lowball the ladies! 😲
Burnita represented the NWP in a trial and the jury awarded them ~ $300,000 – the largest condemnation award paid for by the Federal Government at the time! 🪙
(Here she is, collecting the check from the Attorney General!)
Burnita represented the NWP in a trial and the jury awarded them ~ $300,000 – the largest condemnation award paid for by the Federal Government at the time! 🪙
(Here she is, collecting the check from the Attorney General!)
Based upon her record, in 1949 President Truman appointed Burnita Matthews to the federal district court in DC.👩⚖️
She was the 1st female judge to preside over a US trial court.🥇
She made it a point to hire only women law clerks - “I wanted to show my confidence in women.'' ❤️
She was the 1st female judge to preside over a US trial court.🥇
She made it a point to hire only women law clerks - “I wanted to show my confidence in women.'' ❤️
But not everyone was thrilled to have Burnita on the bench . . .
One of the judges on the district court, T. Alan Goldsborough, said that while ''Mrs. Matthews would be a good judge,'' there was ''just one thing wrong: she's a woman.'' 🤦♀️
(Later he admitted he had been wrong.)
One of the judges on the district court, T. Alan Goldsborough, said that while ''Mrs. Matthews would be a good judge,'' there was ''just one thing wrong: she's a woman.'' 🤦♀️
(Later he admitted he had been wrong.)
During her years on the bench, Burnita presided over several major trials.
A particularly noteworthy one? In 1957, she presided over Jimmy Hoffa’s trial for bribery! 💸
She took senior status in 1968 but continued hearing cases (including some on the D.C. Circuit) until 1983!
A particularly noteworthy one? In 1957, she presided over Jimmy Hoffa’s trial for bribery! 💸
She took senior status in 1968 but continued hearing cases (including some on the D.C. Circuit) until 1983!
Before she died, President Reagan wrote of her, “[I]n furthering the administration of justice . . . [the Judge's] diligence, distinguished efforts and pioneering spirit serve as an inspiration to all.”
And RBG referred to her as “a soft-spoken woman, but made of steel.” 💪
And RBG referred to her as “a soft-spoken woman, but made of steel.” 💪
Thanks for showing us how it’s done, Judge Matthews, and marking the path for so many to come!
#IHeartJudicialHistory
#appellatetwitter
@LadyLawyerDiary
(fin)
#IHeartJudicialHistory
#appellatetwitter
@LadyLawyerDiary
(fin)
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
