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List of first women lawyers and judges in Arizona

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This is a list of the first women lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Arizona. 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.

Firsts in Arizona's history

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Sarah Herring Sorin: First female lawyer in Arizona (1892)
Janet Napolitano: First female Attorney General for Arizona (1999)
Diane Humetewa: First Native American (Hopi) female Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (2014)

Lawyers

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State judges

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  • First female justices of the peace: Nellie T. Bush and Emeline Ferguson in 1914[9]
  • First female to unsuccessfully run for court superior court judge: Gertrude Converse in 1948[10]
  • First female (Arizona Superior Court): Lorna E. Lockwood (1925) in 1950[11]
  • First Latino American female (reputed): Anita Lewis Chávez (1947)[4][12][13]
  • First female (Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court): Lorna E. Lockwood (1925) in 1961[11]
  • First female (Arizona Court of Appeals): Mary M. Schroeder in 1975[14]
  • First African American female: Jean Williams (1949) in 1977[3][4]
  • First Asian American female: Roxanne Song Ong (1979) circa 1986[7][8]
  • First African American female (justice of the peace): Pamela Gutierrez in 1994[15]
  • First Native American (female) elected to the Arizona Superior Court: Gloria J. Kindig in 1996[16]
  • First Asian American female (Arizona Superior Court): Rosa Mroz in 2004[17][18]
  • First Latino American female (Arizona Court of Appeals): Patricia A. Orozco (1989) in 2004[19][20]
  • First openly lesbian female: Tracey Nadzieja in 2018[21]
  • First Navajo female (chief justice of tribal high court): Claudine Bates-Arthur (1970)[22]
  • First Muslim female (justice of the peace pro tempore): Laila Ikram (2022)[23]

Federal judges

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Attorney General of Arizona

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Assistant Attorney General

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United States Attorney

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Assistant United States Attorney

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County Attorney

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  • First female: Rose Sosnowsky Silver in 1969[32][33]
  • First Latino American female: Patricia A. Orozco (1989) in 1999[19][20]

Assistant County Attorney

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  • First female: Loretta Savage Whitney in 1943[10]

Political Office

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State Bar of Arizona

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  • First female (president): Roxana C. Bacon in 1991[37]
  • First openly lesbian female (president): Amelia Craig Cramer in 2012[38]
  • First Asian American (female) (president): Lisa Loo (1988) in 2016[39][40]
  • First Latino American female (president): Jessica Sanchez in 2022[41]

Firsts in local history

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  • Donna Grimsley:[42] First female to serve on the Apache County Superior Court, Arizona (2003)
  • Ann Littrell:[43] First female to serve on the Cochise County Superior Court in Arizona
  • Helen Colton:[44] First female judge in Coconino County, Arizona (1919)
  • Ann Kirkpatrick (1979):[45] First female Deputy County Attorney for Coconino County, Arizona
  • Daisy Flores:[46] First female County Attorney in Gila County, Arizona
  • Monica Lynn Stauffer:[47] First female to serve on the Superior Court of Greenlee County, Arizona (1998)
  • Jessica Quickle:[48] First female judge in La Paz County, Arizona (2018)
  • Anita Lewis Chávez (1947):[4][12][13] Reputed to be the first Latino American female lawyer in Maricopa County, Arizona
  • Gloria Ybarra:[4] First Hispanic female to serve on the Maricopa County Superior Court, Arizona (1985)
  • Sarah D. Grant:[5] First female to serve as the Presiding Criminal Judge in the Maricopa County Superior Court
  • Rosa Mroz:[17][18] First Asian American female to serve on the Maricopa County Superior Court (2004)
  • Barbara Rodriguez Mundell:[49] First Hispanic female to serve as the Presiding Judge of Maricopa County, Arizona (2005)
  • Roxanne Song Ong:[7][8] First Asian female to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Phoenix Municipal Court (Maricopa County, Arizona; 2005)
  • Allister Adel:[50] First female to serve as the County Attorney of Maricopa County, Arizona (2019)
  • Charlotte Wells:[51] First female judge in Mohave County, Arizona (2002)
  • Carolyn Holliday:[52][53] First female elected to the Superior Court of Navajo County, Arizona, (1996) and serve as its Presiding Judge (1999)
  • Mary Anne Richey (née Reimann):[2][31] First female to serve as the Deputy County Attorney in Pima County, Arizona (1952)
  • Alice Truman:[54] First female Justice of the Peace and judge in Pima County, Arizona (1962)
  • Rose Sosnowsky Silver:[32][33] First female appointed as the Pima County Attorney (1969)
  • Barbara LaWall (1976):[55] First female elected as the Pima County Attorney (1996)
  • Lina Rodriguez (1977):[4][56] First Hispanic American to serve on the Pima County Superior Court, Arizona (1984)
  • Laine Sklar:[57] First female magistrate in Marana, Arizona (c. 2006) [Pima County, Arizona]
  • Margarita Bernal (c. 1979):[58] First Latino American female to serve as a municipal court judge in Tucson, Arizona [Pima County, Arizona]
  • Anna Montoya-Paez:[59] First female elected to the Santa Cruz County Superior Court, Arizona
  • Sheila Polk (1982):[55] First female to serve as the Yavapai County Attorney (2004)
  • Nellie T. Bush and Emeline Ferguson:[9] First females elected as Justices of the Peace in Yuma County, Arizona (1914)
  • Patricia A. Orozco (1989):[19][20] First Latino American female appointed as the County Attorney for Yuma County, Arizona (1999)

See also

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Other topics of interest

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References

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  1. ^ Watts, Stan (2007). A Legal History of Maricopa County. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738548159.
  2. ^ a b c Arizona, State Bar of. "Diversity". State Bar of Arizona. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  3. ^ a b "Jean Williams, 1st Black female municipal judge in Phoenix, dies". azcentral. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Zachary Alden (2002). Politics and Public Policy in Arizona. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780275971182.
  5. ^ a b Ryan, Michael D. (November 2000). "FEATURE: ARIZONA TRAILBLAZERS: HONORING 100 WOMEN AND MINORITY LAWYERS". AZ Attorney. 37: 20.
  6. ^ Ryan, Michael D. (November 2000). "Arizona Trailblazers: Honoring 100 Women & Minority Lawyers". AZ Attorney. 37: 20.
  7. ^ a b c "Phoenix picks chief judge after controversial process". azcentral. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  8. ^ a b c "Board of Directors". www.azflse.org. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  9. ^ a b "Justice 2020: A Vision for the Future of the Arizona Judicial Branch 2010-2015" (PDF).
  10. ^ a b Osselaer, Heidi J. (2016-05-26). Winning Their Place: Arizona Women in Politics, 1883-1950. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-3472-2.
  11. ^ a b c Star, Jan Cleere Special to the Arizona Daily. "Western Women: Lorna Lockwood first woman AZ Supreme Court justice". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  12. ^ a b Watts, Stan (2007). A Legal History of Maricopa County. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738548159.
  13. ^ a b "Nurturing Tradition, Fostering Change: Patriotism, Community Service and the Women's Auxiliary of American Legion Tony F. Soza-Ray Martínez Post 41 :: Arizona Latinos in Public Service". azmemory.azlibrary.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  14. ^ Irvine, Patrick (June 2005). "ARTICLE: 1965-2005: THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS". AZ Attorney. 41: 12.
  15. ^ "Pamela Gutierrez Obituary". Legacy.com. August 19, 2007.
  16. ^ "Women's Plaza of Honor". plaza.sbs.arizona.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
  17. ^ a b Eigo, Tim (February 2005). "ARTICLE: FAMILY MATTERS MOST: JUDGE ROSA MROZ TAKES THE BENCH". AZ Attorney. 41: 10.
  18. ^ a b "'She was a breath of knowledge': Maricopa County judge leaves behind lasting legacy". 12news.com. February 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  19. ^ a b c Guerra, Mary Dolores (Fall 2013). "Latina and Latino Judges: Changing the Complexion of the Bench". Florida A & M University Law Review. 9: 145–181.
  20. ^ a b c Eigo, Tim (May 2001). "WOMEN IN LAW: PATRICIA OROZCO: RURAL ROUTE ONE PATH TO LEGAL SUCCESS: STANDING OUT IN A COUNTY SEAT". AZ Attorney. 37: 29.
  21. ^ Campbell, Katie (2018-10-26). "Transgender judge takes bench as gender issues heat up | Arizona Capitol Times". Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  22. ^ "ABQjournal: Claudine Bates-Arthur First Woman on Navajo Court". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  23. ^ Brown, Brandon (Jul 6, 2022). "Arizona's first Muslim judge takes the bench". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Congressional Record, Volume 162 Issue 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)". www.gpo.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  25. ^ a b "First Native American woman confirmed as federal judge". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  26. ^ a b Lynne Harlan (2007-11-23). "Native people gain a new role model". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved 2008-02-22. [dead link‍]
  27. ^ a b "Do the right thing, Dems: Confirm Humetewa, now". East Valley Tribune. 2007-11-19. Archived from the original on 2007-06-24. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  28. ^ a b "Humetewa, Diane Joyce – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  29. ^ "Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security 2009 – 2013". Department of Homeland Security. 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
  30. ^ "A Piece of History: Legal "First's" for Women" (PDF). Phoenix Women.
  31. ^ a b c "United States Attorney's Office Celebrates the Achievements of Judge Mary Anne Richey". www.justice.gov. 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  32. ^ a b Eubank, Johanna. "First female Pima County Attorney said greatest achievement was her family". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  33. ^ a b "Rose Silver Won't Seek New Term". Arizona Daily Star. 1971-12-27. p. 25. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  34. ^ "Sinema, First Openly Bisexual Member Of Congress, Represents 'Changing Arizona'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  35. ^ Gambino, Lauren (2018-11-13). "Kyrsten Sinema wins Arizona Senate race in breakthrough for Democrats". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
  36. ^ Upon becoming a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona
  37. ^ "Blaek Women Lawyer's Association". Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  38. ^ "Lesbian attorney elected president of Arizona Bar". Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  39. ^ Arizona, State Bar of. "Diversity". State Bar of Arizona. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  40. ^ Arizona, State Bar of. "Lisa Loo Becomes State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors President". State Bar of Arizona. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  41. ^ "President Bio". azbar.org. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  42. ^ Independent, Karen Warnick-The. "Superior Court Judge Donna Grimsley to retire". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  43. ^ Shacat, Jonathon (January 2, 2013). "First female judge in Cochise County retires". Arizona Range News. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  44. ^ "Judge Colton's First Case". The Coconino Sun. 1919-04-11. pp. Page Twelve. ISSN 2158-2637. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  45. ^ Printing, Joint Committee on (2010-01-22). Official Congressional Directory, 2009-2010: 111th Congress, Convened January 2009 (Hardcover). Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160837289.
  46. ^ "Going for the Gold: Attorney Athletes Strut Their Stuff" (PDF). ARIZONA ATTORNEY. April 2003.
  47. ^ Dixon, Debbie (November 11, 1998). "Stauffer takes judge position / The people have spoken! In a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans four to one, history was made during last Tuesday's election". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  48. ^ "Jessica Quickle to be next Superior Court Judge". Parker Live. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  49. ^ "Barbara Rodríguez Mundell". azmemory.azlibrary.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  50. ^ "ASU Law grad makes history as first female Maricopa County Attorney". ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact. 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  51. ^ "Governor appoints city attorney to bench". Kingman Daily Miner. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  52. ^ "Judge Carolyn Holliday Looks Ahead To Life After Law Career". The Tribune. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  53. ^ Reyes, Mara. "Former judge Holliday seeks return to bench". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  54. ^ "MS 1087 / Truman, Alice, 1922- / Papers, ca. 1950-1993" (PDF). Arizona Historical Society.
  55. ^ a b "APAAC Council". www.apaac.az.gov. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  56. ^ Arizona Bar Journal. State Bar of Arizona. 1982.
  57. ^ Khmara, Danyelle. "Marana reappoints town magistrate". Tucson Local Media. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  58. ^ "Board of Trustees". The National Judicial College. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  59. ^ "Hon. Anna Paez". www.santacruzcountyaz.gov. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
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