Alright now. Today marks the 141st anniversary of the *very first time a woman argued before the Supreme Court.* ποΈ
Who was the woman and how did she manage to argue the case in 1880?
Well her name was Belva A. Lockwood and clearly weβre going to need a βοΈπ§΅ about it . . .
Who was the woman and how did she manage to argue the case in 1880?
Well her name was Belva A. Lockwood and clearly weβre going to need a βοΈπ§΅ about it . . .
Belva Ann Bennett was born in New York in 1830, and her early life was hard. Really hard.
She was married at 18 and widowed at 24, with a toddler to raise.
So she taught school π€. . . only to discover that male teachers were getting paid twice as much or more . . . π‘
She was married at 18 and widowed at 24, with a toddler to raise.
So she taught school π€. . . only to discover that male teachers were getting paid twice as much or more . . . π‘
When Belva went to the school trustees, she later said β βThe answer I received opened my eyes and raised my dander.β
(I just knew you would β€οΈ her.)
And what was that answer? βI canβt help you; you cannot help yourself, for it is the way of the world.β π²
(I just knew you would β€οΈ her.)
And what was that answer? βI canβt help you; you cannot help yourself, for it is the way of the world.β π²
This motivated our Belva & she decided to pursue law.
She applied to the Columbia Law School in DC, only to be told she could not be admitted *as she might distract the male students.*π ββοΈ
So she found a school that would admit her β the National University Law School - instead.
She applied to the Columbia Law School in DC, only to be told she could not be admitted *as she might distract the male students.*π ββοΈ
So she found a school that would admit her β the National University Law School - instead.
And if youβre thinking to yourself, hmm . . . that law school sounds familiar . . . π€
You are right! It is where a few of our other heroines went to law school, including Burnita Shelton Matthews β the first woman to serve as a U.S. District Judge. π
You are right! It is where a few of our other heroines went to law school, including Burnita Shelton Matthews β the first woman to serve as a U.S. District Judge. π
https://twitter.com/marinklevy/status/1442280640695705601?s=20
Now even the progressive National Law School had its limitations. They refused to grant Belva a diploma as she was a woman. π€·ββοΈ
This was a problem because she needed a diploma to be admitted to the DC Bar.
So Belva took matters into her own hands & wrote to President Grant! βοΈ
This was a problem because she needed a diploma to be admitted to the DC Bar.
So Belva took matters into her own hands & wrote to President Grant! βοΈ
As President of the United States, Grant was conveniently also president ex officio of the National University Law School. π
A few days after sending her letter, Belva received her diploma. π©βπ
Now she just had to win her way into court . . . βοΈ
A few days after sending her letter, Belva received her diploma. π©βπ
Now she just had to win her way into court . . . βοΈ
You see, some π¨ββοΈ wouldn't let her appear in their courtroom b/c she had remarried and was thus β brace yourself β a married woman.π΅
So Belva petitioned Congress to pass an anti-discrimination law that would allow women to appear in any court in the District, including SCOTUS.π
So Belva petitioned Congress to pass an anti-discrimination law that would allow women to appear in any court in the District, including SCOTUS.π
In 1879, Congress passed "an act to relieve certain legal disabilities of women" & the President signed it into law. ποΈ
Lockwood was the π₯ woman admitted to the Supreme Court Bar later that year!
She was reportedly sworn in amidst "a bating of breath and craning of necks.β π
Lockwood was the π₯ woman admitted to the Supreme Court Bar later that year!
She was reportedly sworn in amidst "a bating of breath and craning of necks.β π
Then on Nov. 30, 1880 she argued before the Court β the very π₯ woman to do so β in a case called Kaiser v. Stickney.
Sadly for Belva, she lost. πββοΈ
But in 1906, she was back - this time successfully representing the Eastern Cherokee in a $ 5 million case before the Court! ποΈ
Sadly for Belva, she lost. πββοΈ
But in 1906, she was back - this time successfully representing the Eastern Cherokee in a $ 5 million case before the Court! ποΈ
One of my very favorite parts of Belvaβs story is that she sponsored Samuel R. Lowery for admission to the Supreme Court Bar. βοΈ
He was the fifth attorney of color to be admitted and the very first to argue before the Court.
(That's them! π)
He was the fifth attorney of color to be admitted and the very first to argue before the Court.
(That's them! π)
So on this special anniversary, I think back to Belvaβs words, reflecting on her own career:
"I have never stopped fighting . . . My cause was the cause of thousands of women."β€οΈβπ₯
Thanks to Belva Lockwood for breaking the path β and here's to many more walking down it! π₯
(Fin)
"I have never stopped fighting . . . My cause was the cause of thousands of women."β€οΈβπ₯
Thanks to Belva Lockwood for breaking the path β and here's to many more walking down it! π₯
(Fin)
Okay β one bonus Fun Fact. As if we couldnβt β€οΈ Belva more, she is thought to be DCβs first female cyclist.π²
She learned that male lawyers were delivering documents by bike to speed up their work. Her dress made this tricky so she rode around DC in . . . a tricycle. π
She learned that male lawyers were delivering documents by bike to speed up their work. Her dress made this tricky so she rode around DC in . . . a tricycle. π
(as always, cc: @LadyLawyerDiary β€οΈ)
β’ β’ β’
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