Who is in the mood to hear the story of the ⭐️First Woman Article III Judge⭐️?
Cuz I am sure in the mood to tell it!
Tonight we meet Judge Florence Allen – a true pathbreaker! (She served on the Ohio Supreme Court *and* the 6th Circuit!)
Mini ⚖️🧵all about her in 3...2...1...
Cuz I am sure in the mood to tell it!
Tonight we meet Judge Florence Allen – a true pathbreaker! (She served on the Ohio Supreme Court *and* the 6th Circuit!)
Mini ⚖️🧵all about her in 3...2...1...
Let's do the basics first:
Florence Ellinwood Allen was born in 1884.
She graduated at age 20 from what is today Case Western Reserve & then - being a true Renaissance woman - went to Germany 🇩🇪 to study 🎹, almost becoming a professional pianist!
(Florence had skills.)
Florence Ellinwood Allen was born in 1884.
She graduated at age 20 from what is today Case Western Reserve & then - being a true Renaissance woman - went to Germany 🇩🇪 to study 🎹, almost becoming a professional pianist!
(Florence had skills.)
But, luckily for us, she changed course & turned to law.⚖️
(Not to worry – she kept up her love of 🎵 and even was a music critic for the amazingly-named Cleveland Plain Dealer 📰 for awhile!)
Florence decided to attend law school ... but her alma mater wouldn’t admit women.🙅♀️
(Not to worry – she kept up her love of 🎵 and even was a music critic for the amazingly-named Cleveland Plain Dealer 📰 for awhile!)
Florence decided to attend law school ... but her alma mater wouldn’t admit women.🙅♀️
Not one to be deterred, our gal Florence enrolled at @UChicagoLaw in 1909, where she was the only woman out of 100 1Ls.😲
By the end of winter quarter, she was ranked 2nd in her class!🥈
But, finding the environment “inhospitable” to women, she transferred to @nyulaw . . .
By the end of winter quarter, she was ranked 2nd in her class!🥈
But, finding the environment “inhospitable” to women, she transferred to @nyulaw . . .
Since @nyulaw had been admitting women since 1890 (good job, y’all), she found it just a wee bit friendlier (sorry, Chicago). 🤷♀️
Florence again blazed a trail and graduated second in her L.L.B. class in 1913. 🔥
Despite her stellar credentials, no NY firm would hire her ... 😠
Florence again blazed a trail and graduated second in her L.L.B. class in 1913. 🔥
Despite her stellar credentials, no NY firm would hire her ... 😠
So Florence moved back to Ohio . . . where no Cleveland firm would hire her. 😡
But no matter – Florence once again blazed her own path. 🔥
In 1919, she became an assistant prosecutor in Cuyahoga County – making her the 1st woman to hold such a rank in the entire country! 🥇
But no matter – Florence once again blazed her own path. 🔥
In 1919, she became an assistant prosecutor in Cuyahoga County – making her the 1st woman to hold such a rank in the entire country! 🥇
But Florence was just getting started ...
The next year, after the 19th Amend. was ratified 🙋♀️, “enthusiastic suffragists” helped elect her to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas ...
making Florence the 1st woman elected to a court of general jurisdiction in the nation!👩⚖️
The next year, after the 19th Amend. was ratified 🙋♀️, “enthusiastic suffragists” helped elect her to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas ...
making Florence the 1st woman elected to a court of general jurisdiction in the nation!👩⚖️
Now this is *priceless.*
Florence’s fellow judges suggested she confine her judging to "domestic disputes.”🤨
Florence (who never married), said, thanks but no thanks, noting that unlike her colleagues, she didn’t have sufficient expertise in the “domestic domain.”
(❤️ her)
Florence’s fellow judges suggested she confine her judging to "domestic disputes.”🤨
Florence (who never married), said, thanks but no thanks, noting that unlike her colleagues, she didn’t have sufficient expertise in the “domestic domain.”
(❤️ her)
To quote RBG in an article quoting Florence:
“When women of intelligence recognize their share in and their responsibility for the courts, a powerful moral backing is secured for the administration of justice." ⚖️
(Did I mention we ❤️ her?)
“When women of intelligence recognize their share in and their responsibility for the courts, a powerful moral backing is secured for the administration of justice." ⚖️
(Did I mention we ❤️ her?)
Clearly Florence was just getting started.
Cuz our gal still needs to make it to the Ohio Supreme Court & the 6th Circuit & get shortlisted for the Supreme Court (bet you didn’t see that coming!).
With so much ground to cover, we'll pick up the 🧵later this week ... until then!
Cuz our gal still needs to make it to the Ohio Supreme Court & the 6th Circuit & get shortlisted for the Supreme Court (bet you didn’t see that coming!).
With so much ground to cover, we'll pick up the 🧵later this week ... until then!
Who am I kidding? Let’s keep talking about Florence ...
So, our gal was on the trial court for 20 months & heard some amazing cases. One trial led to the conviction of a mob boss for murder & she received death threats!😨
In the words of RBG, the judge carried on, undeterred.
So, our gal was on the trial court for 20 months & heard some amazing cases. One trial led to the conviction of a mob boss for murder & she received death threats!😨
In the words of RBG, the judge carried on, undeterred.
Florence was so undeterred that she decided to set her sights higher, and, in 1922, she ran for a spot on the Supreme Court of Ohio. ⚖️
Who helped her? The women of Ohio who organized Florence Allen Clubs all over the state! 🙆♀️
AND SHE WON! 🎉
Who helped her? The women of Ohio who organized Florence Allen Clubs all over the state! 🙆♀️
AND SHE WON! 🎉
Okay now this is amazing. According to RBG, Florence earned the accolade
⭐️Portia of the Prairies ⭐️
for becoming the first woman to serve on any state’s highest court.
Shakespeare + Judicial History = ❤️
(And the rest of our tale will follow in the morrow!)
⭐️Portia of the Prairies ⭐️
for becoming the first woman to serve on any state’s highest court.
Shakespeare + Judicial History = ❤️
(And the rest of our tale will follow in the morrow!)
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