List of first women lawyers and judges in Florida explained

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

Law School

Lawyers

State judges

Federal judges

Assistant Attorney General of Florida

United States Attorney

State Attorney

Assistant State Attorney

County Attorney

Public Defender

Firsts in local history

First female to serve on the Duval County Court in Florida (1973-1975)

First female (and African American) judge in Gadsden County, Florida (2009)

First female judge in Dade County, Florida (1924)

[99] First female to serve on the Metropolitan Court of Dade County (1959), Florida

First Haitian American (female) to serve on the Miami-Dade County Court (2020)

See also

Other topics of interest

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2005 Inductees . 2022-03-10 . www.stetson.edu . en-US.
  2. Web site: Celebrating Florida's first 150 women lawyers. www.floridabar.org. 2016-10-06.
  3. Atencio . Dolores S. . 2023 . Luminarias: An Empirical Portrait of the First Generation of Latina Lawyers 1880-1980 . Chicana/o Latina/o Law Review . en . 39 . 1 . 10.5070/cllr.v39i1.61869 . 1061-8899.
  4. The Florida Women's Bar Association mistakenly identified Marian Borros (1926) as the first Hispanic female lawyer in the state. It was determined by Atencio (2023) that Borros was actually of Danish-Swedish descent.
  5. Web site: On Being the First: An Interview With Bernice Gaines. Angela. 2018-01-04. BlackHer.us. en-US. 2018-12-11.
  6. Web site: Reno honors Florida's first women lawyers. The Florida Bar. en-US. 2018-12-11.
  7. Web site: Pettis sworn in as president. The Florida Bar. en-US. 2018-12-11.
  8. Web site: Law Offices of Zubaida Iqbal . 2022-03-10 . Bangladesh Circle . en-US.
  9. Web site: Woman with autism admitted to Florida Bar, becoming "first openly-autistic lawyer," employer says. www.cbsnews.com. en-US. 2019-03-05.
  10. Web site: She may be Florida's first lawyer with autism. And she's out to change lives and minds. USA TODAY. en. 2019-03-05.
  11. Book: Women Lawyers' Journal. 1919. Women Lawyers' Club. en.
  12. News: The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, February 25, 1922, Image 1. Humanities. National Endowment for the. The Pensacola Journal. 1922-02-25. 2019-02-27. 1941-109X.
  13. News: Celebrating Florida's first 150 women lawyers. The Florida Bar. 2018-01-09.
  14. Upon Atkinson's appointment as a Judge of the Juvenile Court of Dade County
  15. Web site: Loquasto . Wendy . Spring 2004 . FAWL CHRONICLES: GENDER BIAS IN THE JUDICIAL SELECTION PROCESS THEN AND NOW . FAWL Journal.
  16. Web site: 2003-03-03 . The history of The Jacksonville Bar Association Jax Daily Record . 2019-01-11 . Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida . en.
  17. Web site: 2014-03-13 . Timeline of the life of Reubin Askew, 37th governor of Florida . 2019-01-11 . Tampa Bay Times . en-US.
  18. Upon Booth's appointment to the First District Court of Appeal in Florida
  19. Web site: Writer . MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press . First business court in Florida opens in Orlando . 2024-07-26 . The Star Banner . en-US.
  20. News: Miami community activist Robert Simms dies at 87 in Alabama. miamiherald. 2018-01-09.
  21. Dillard. Kalinthia R.. February 2014. African-American Women and the Judiciary: Past, Present, and Future. Bulletin (Palm Beach County Bar Association).
  22. Upon Simms appointment as a Judge of the Dade County Superior Court in 1981
  23. News: The Honorable Margarita Esquiroz Dies at 67. NBC 6 South Florida. 2018-01-12.
  24. Web site: Miami Law Mourns Passing of Judge Margarita Esquiroz, JD '74 University of Miami School of Law. www.law.miami.edu. 2018-01-12.
  25. Upon Esquiroz's appointment as a circuit judge in Dade County in 1984
  26. Book: Dennis . Yvonne Wakim . A Kid's Guide to Arab American History: More Than 50 Activities . Addasi . Maha . 2013 . Chicago Review Press . 9781613740170.
  27. News: Broward County Attorneys . BCBA . 2018-01-04.
  28. Gunther also served as a Judge of the Circuit Court (1981–1986) and Judge of the County Court (1973–1981).
  29. Web site: Florida Black History Facts – Commissioner of Education's African American History Task Force . 2020-03-06 . en-US.
  30. Web site: Justices of the Florida Supreme Court - Justice Quince . 2018-01-09 . www.floridasupremecourt.org.
  31. Web site: 2023-10-22 . Former state Supreme Court justice: Despite outrage over Hamas attack, honor the First Amendment . 2024-05-18 . WUSF . en.
  32. Web site: District Court of Appeals Website - Judge Carole Y. Taylor . 2018-01-05 . www.4dca.org.
  33. Book: Yeager, Ken . Trailblazers : profiles of America's gay and lesbian elected officials . 1999 . New York : Haworth Press . Internet Archive . 978-0-7890-0299-0.
  34. News: Ledger . JASON GEARY The . COVINGTON BECOMES A FEDERAL JUDGE; RESIGNS STATE BENCH . The Ledger . 2018-01-19.
  35. Web site: Colombian American Bar to honor Avalos . 2022-05-04 . The Florida Bar . en-US.
  36. Web site: Staff . Digital . 2019-01-09 . First Hispanic woman appointed to Florida Supreme Court . 2019-01-09 . WEAR.
  37. Web site: LEON COUNTY JUDGE NINA ASHENAFI-RICHARDSON TO RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED JUDICIAL SERVICE PRO BONO AWARD – The Florida Bar . 2022-03-12 . en-US.
  38. Web site: Nina Ashenafi Richardson . 2022-03-12 . Florida Commission on the Status of Women . en.
  39. Web site: Etters . Karl . Appellate Judge Nikki Clark resigning . 2020-03-05 . Tallahassee Democrat . en.
  40. Web site: Judge Gonzalez-Whyte Set Sights on Law at Young Age . 2022-04-28 . Daily Business Review . en.
  41. Web site: Church honors Tallahassee's black history pioneers in law and medicine. Tallahassee Democrat. en. 2020-03-05.
  42. Web site: Judicial Spotlight Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida . 2023-06-15 . ninthcircuit.org.
  43. News: Bertila Soto '86 named Chief Judge of Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. FIU News. 2018-01-12.
  44. Web site: Maria Ruhl, region's first Hispanic judge, sworn in. Anderson. Zac. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. en. 2019-01-29.
  45. Web site: Election of the new Chief Judge in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court - Sarasota County Bar Association . 2019-03-04 . www.sarasotabar.com.
  46. Web site: McLeod . Sheri-Kae . 2020-05-27 . Jamaican-born Renatha Francis Becomes the First Caribbean-American Appointed to Florida Supreme Court . 2022-03-12 . Caribbean News . en.
  47. Web site: Torres . Andrea . 2020-04-17 . DeSantis appoints Haitian-American woman to Eleventh Judicial Circuit . 2022-05-04 . WPLG . en.
  48. Web site: 2022-10-04 . Flagler's 'Victory Lap' as Circuit's 1st Black Women Judges Are Celebrated, With Pointed Sidebars . 2022-10-28 . FlaglerLive . en-US.
  49. Web site: Nunez-Navarro appointed to Ninth Judicial Circuit court . 2022-05-04 . The Florida Bar . en-US.
  50. Web site: Judge Melissa C. Black - Professional Background & Legal Expertise Trellis.Law . 2024-06-05 . trellis.law.
  51. Upon Black's appointment as a Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  52. Web site: Tampa legal community celebrates its 'Hidden Figures' at luncheon . 2022-03-05 . Tampa Bay Times . en.
  53. Web site: BEST LOCAL GIRL MADE GOOD: Cecilia Altonaga Best of Miami® 2003: Your Key to the City. Miami New Times. 2018-05-30.
  54. Web site: USATODAY.com - First black woman federal judge in Florida sworn in . .
  55. Web site: August 22, 2023 . Interview with the Honorable Corali Lopez-Castro, J.D. ’90 – Florida’s First Hispanic Bankruptcy Judge . 2023-08-28 . news.miami.edu . en.
  56. News: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi under consideration to replace Sessions. 2018-11-08. en.
  57. Web site: 2012 Inductees - Rebecca Bowles Hawkins. Levin College of Law. en. 2018-12-13.
  58. Web site: Whigham II . Julius . Pacenti . John . State Attorney Dave Aronberg won't seek U.S. attorney post for South Florida . 2022-04-15 . The Palm Beach Post . en-US.
  59. News: Fajardo confirmed as first woman nominee to head U.S. Attorney office in South Florida . miamiherald . 2018-10-01.
  60. News: Ser la primera mujer fiscal federal para el sur de la Florida es algo increíble para mí . es . diariolasamericas.com . 2018-10-01.
  61. News: Weaver . Jay . Miami-Dade judge confirmed as first woman to head U.S. Attorney's office in South Florida . Sun-Sentinel.com . 2018-10-01.
  62. Web site: How Janet Reno handled and bounced back from the biggest cases in her life. miamiherald. en. 2019-01-11.
  63. Web site: Meet the State Attorney . 2024-05-21 . Office of Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
  64. Web site: Black Florida state attorney Aramis Ayala pulled over in traffic stop, prompting outrage. USA TODAY. en. 2018-12-18.
  65. Web site: Aramis Ayala becomes first black state attorney in Florida's history. Powers. Scott. 9 November 2016. en-US. 2018-12-18.
  66. Web site: Celebrate Women Leading the Way Hernando Sun. www.hernandosun.com. en. 2020-02-27.
  67. Web site: Book honors "the women everyone else forgot to talk about." Hernando Sun. www.hernandosun.com. en. 2020-02-27.
  68. Web site: Thomas will succeed Daniels as public defender. Tallahassee Democrat. en. 2019-03-25.
  69. Web site: Nancy Daniels has been a dedicated public servant. Tallahassee Democrat. en. 2019-03-25.
  70. Web site: Florida Commission on the Status of Women Patricia Ann Seitz. en-US. 2019-01-02.
  71. Web site: West Palm Beach attorney to become Florida Bar's first Black female president . 2023-12-27 . The Palm Beach Post . en-US.
  72. Web site: Office of the Public Defender 8th Judicial Circuit. publicdefender.alachuacounty.us. 2019-03-25.
  73. Web site: Hcba . 2015-03-15 . LAWYER MAGAZINE Online Edition: Special Feature: An Interview with the Hon. Susan C. Bucklew . 2018-12-24 . LAWYER MAGAZINE Online Edition.
  74. Web site: 2007 Inductees . 2019-01-11 . www.stetson.edu.
  75. Web site: THE INVESTITUTE OF LORELIE P. BRANNAN TO THE BAKER COUNTY COURT BENCH . 2022-10-28 . The Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida . en-US.
  76. News: 1st Female Elected Judge Gets Honor. tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. 2017-10-16.
  77. Web site: Clarice appointment good step toward equality in judiciary. May 29, 1998. Florida Today. en. 2020-03-12.
  78. Web site: Past Presidents. 2021-08-04. BCBA. en-US.
  79. Web site: Judge Mary Rudd-Robinson steps down from the bench after 27 years of dedicated service. thewestsidegazette.com. 2020-06-02.
  80. Web site: Rosa . Braulio . 2022-02-02 . Judge Florence Taylor Barner Interview Black History 2022 . 2023-12-19 . BCBA . en-US.
  81. Web site: 2019-07-11 . APABA of South Florida Congratulates Natasha DePrimo’s Appointment and Investiture to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit’s County Court . 2024-02-24 . APABA of South Florida . en-US.
  82. Web site: McLeod. Sheri-Kae. 2021-07-29. Jamaican-American Lawyer is First Black Female President of Broward County Bar Association. 2021-08-04. Caribbean News. en.
  83. Web site: MEMORANDUM (RE: City Attorney Search Update: Recommended Candidates). April 12, 2019. City of Vero Beach.
  84. Web site: 2020-03-04 . The Marbut Report: Judge Pauline Drake retires Jax Daily Record . 2020-03-15 . Jacksonville Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida . en.
  85. Upon Drake's appointment to the Duval County Court in 1998
  86. Web site: Tia Mitchell: What lobbyist Joe Mobley and his new family taught me about covering politics. Mitchell. Tia. The Florida Times. en. 2019-01-11.
  87. News: Women in The Florida Bar. The Florida Bar. 2018-02-11.
  88. News: First female Gilchrist County judge sworn in Friday. WUFT News. 2018-01-06.
  89. Web site: GROUNDBREAKING NEW JUDGE . 2024-08-06 . Tampa Bay Times . en.
  90. Web site: Three sets of Circuit Court judicial candidates on the August ballot . 2024-08-06 . Ocala Gazette . en.
  91. Web site: From early days, lawyers have led. Landers. Roger. April 30, 2007. www.sptimes.com. 2017-10-16.
  92. News: Light shed on Tampa's "legal lights'. Hawes. Leland. August 4, 1996. Tampa Tribune. 8. 2018-02-16.
  93. Web site: HAWL celebrates women pioneers . 2019-03-25 . The Florida Bar . en-US.
  94. Web site: Arthenia Joyner to be first inductee of FAMU Law Hall of Fame - Florida Politics. floridapolitics.com. 20 November 2015. 2017-09-18.
  95. News: City of Tampa to Celebrate Women's History Month. dp9q. 2017-03-15. City of Tampa. 2018-02-09.
  96. Web site: Election results: Nicole Menz wins Indian River County judge seat. TCPalm. en. 2019-03-08.
  97. Web site: City's Black history firsts honored at awards dinner – Capital Outlook. en-US. 2020-03-05.
  98. Web site: Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association - Our History. gscbwla.org. 2018-02-08.
  99. Book: The Florida Handbook 2007-2008. 2007-08-01. Peninsular Publishing. 9780976584612. en.
  100. Web site: EXCERPT FROM CUBANS: AN EPIC JOURNEY, THE STRUGGLE OF EXILES FOR TRUTH AND FREEDOM LAWYERS AND JUDGES. Summer 2013. CABA.
  101. Web site: Complex Business Litigation . 2024-08-12 . www.jud11.flcourts.org.
  102. Web site: 2021-10-13. She made history as the first female first Hispanic Chief Judge.. 2022-02-23. en-US.
  103. Web site: Miami-Dade County's first Black attorney retires; Monestime holds annual Black history luncheon; Florida Law Review elects first Black woman and more. The Miami Times. en. 2020-03-05.
  104. News: Circuit Court Judge Suzanne Bass – Nassau County's first woman judge. 2014-04-18. 2018-02-08.
  105. Williamson. Betty Chandler. Spring 2015. Looking Back: First Ladies of Okeechobee. Okeechobee: The Magazine. 46–47.
  106. Web site: Matthew T. Mangino: Prosecutors struggle with criminal justice reform. Mangino. Matthew T.. Burlington County Times. en. 2020-03-12.
  107. Web site: Meet LaShawnda K. Jackson, First Black President of the Orange County Bar Association - Orlando Women Magazine. 2021-08-04. orlandowomenmag.com. en.
  108. Web site: First black judge of Osceola County sworn in. FOX. WOFL. 2019-03-04.
  109. Web site: F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association - Reception Honoring Retired Judge Catherine Brunson. cunninghambar.org. 2020-03-05.
  110. Web site: 2022-02-25 . Black female attorneys in Palm Beach County raising the bar, making history . 2022-03-04 . WPTV . en.
  111. Web site: Palm Beach County Bar Association elects first African American female president. Lolo. Sabrina. 2017-08-30. WPEC. 2019-01-02.
  112. Web site: Palm Beach County's first Asian-American judge dies of cancer. Weibezahn. Laurel. sun-sentinel.com. 2019-07-17.
  113. Web site: 2023-05-17 . Reid Scott, Danielle Sherriff appointed to fill Palm Beach County judicial vacancies . 2023-12-19 . WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm . en.
  114. Web site: 2023-11-28 . The Honorable Judge Debra Roberts . 2024-06-05 . Sanford Herald . en.
  115. Stone-Harris. Regina. October 2019. The Remarkable First 50 Women Law Graduates of St. Mary's University: Part One. St. Mary's Law Journal. 50. 3. 951.
  116. News: St. Pete hwy to be renamed after 1st black female lawyer in Pinellas. 2017-09-18.
  117. Web site: The Last Word Business Observer. 2005-03-04. Business Observer. en. 2019-01-11.
  118. Web site: CLENDENING . ROGER K. . Florida's elder law school hires first Black dean after 119 years . 2022-03-15 . The Philadelphia Tribune . en.
  119. Web site: ‘You don’t look like a lawyer!’: 6 ways to navigate professional and corporate spaces. 2022-02-05. ABA Journal. en.
  120. Web site: Cutway. Adrienne. 2021-02-18. Meet the panelists for the Real Talk: Obstacles and Opportunities town hall. 2022-01-24. WKMG. en.
  121. Web site: Pope. Margo C.. County's 1st female judge dies at age 77. 2021-02-26. The St. Augustine Record. en.
  122. News: O'Laughlin, first female judge, attorney in St. Lucie County, dies in Georgia at 86. 2018-02-12.
  123. Book: Davis, Marianna W.. Contributions of Black Women to America: The arts, media, business, law, sports. 1982. Kenday Press.
  124. Web site: Writer . MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press . First business court in Florida opens in Orlando . 2024-07-26 . The Star Banner . en-US.
  125. Web site: All Business . 2024-07-26 . Florida Trend.
  126. Web site: International Commercial Arbitration, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida . 2024-07-25 . www.jud11.flcourts.org.