WOMEN IN THE LAW

Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Who, How, Why By Elaine Fro•t 8c Karen Colby Weiner

n March 24, 1919. 48 years after their brothers at the Bar that they tunlties. An officer of that group re­ 0 Sarah Killgore became the first were simply c;onstltutlonally Inca­ sponded that he knew of no openings in woman admitted to practice law in pable of good lawyering. They were general and "certainly none for Michigan, 1 five women attorneys met In al11o confronted by the equally tena­ women. the Detroit Federatio!ll Building and or­ cious beUef held by tnany women who were not professionals, that To better understand the social gani.zed the Women Lawyers Assocla" women lawyera were somehow and political climate with which these tion of Michigan (hereaft2r WLAM or peculiar for having opted for a life early members had to deal, it Is helpful the Association). Its stated pupc.se was role beyond that of wife and to recognize that most were licensed to ''to advance the interest of women 4 mother." practice law before the Nineteenth members of the legal profession and to By February, 1921, when WL.AM promote a fraternal spirit among Amendment to the United States Con­ had grown to 18 members. 5 Its first Many in lawyers." The charter members, stltutlon enfranchised women. President, Theresa Doland Cornelius, fact were active in securing that right. Theresa Doland Cornelius, Mabel G. recalled the underpinnings of the As­ Henrtetta Ro~nthal. Rlx. E. Maty sociation as "cooperation, [sharing) Among these was Phoebe Mun· Wetsman and Harrl~t A. Marsh, four of general information, social benefit and necke (Wl.AM President 1938-39), one whom were graduates of Michigan law of four suffragists arrested Janui:'lry 5. schools, recognized early in their ca­ preservation of " high standard of ethics. •o6 1919 for kindling a watch-fir'lln front of reers the need for solidarity in what was the White House. Munnecke served a and for close to h~lf a century, con· Among the early members only ten-day jail ~>entence, and later served tinued to be a predominantly male pro­ nine were engaged In the actual practice onother four-day sentence for applaud­ fesslon.2 of law. Since most legal positions were Ing the speech o( a suffragist In a Discussion at the first mee·ting em­ closed to women, they practiced In as· courtroom. sociation With brothers or husbands, phasi.zed the reality that women attor­ After the Nineteeneth Amendment neys were at a tremendous dlsadvan· and in one case with a male attorney who had previously employed the was ratified she swrt'ld a campaign for tage because they had no clearing the Equal Rights Amendment, a battle problems, woman attorney as a secretary. house for their as did their carried forth more recently by another male counterparts. Not only -was free An example of the employment di­ WLAM member, Martha Griffiths, pre­ and serious discussion not open to lemmas women faced In the early ~ndy Michigan Lieutenant Governor, them, but the attitudes of their sup· 1920s Is the personal experience of who in 1972 would continue the fight as posed male peen; ranged from conde· Regene Freund (Cohane). still a pracllc· 3 a member of the United States House scenslon to contempt. As noted re· lng attorney In Southfield. When she of Representatives. cently by Michigan Supreme Court Jus· wa5 gretduatin~ from Cornell law tice Patricia Boyle: School in 1920. Cohane contacted the WLAM received belated recogni­ 'These women . • . were confronted Detroit Bar Association requesting Infor­ tion from the SUite Bar of Michigan, with the ~ldelv held eorwlctlon of mation about employment oppor· • WOMENINTHELAW------­ which carried news of "local bar associ­ From the earliest years of the As­ speakers wer4i! Judge Aorence Allen,9 ations" In Its. early records but did not sociation. in addition to monthly mem­ who !ipOk" both during hQr tQnuro on take such note of WlAM urttlll937. At bership meetings, four annual functions the Ohio Supreme Court and again the September, .1940 State Bar Con­ served a social purpose and provided after ascending to the United States vention, WlAM held its first breakfast an opportunity for WlAM to Increase Its Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; meeting, a tradition which has con­ recognition In the legal and gt?neral Federal Judge Genevieve I. CUne of tinued through the past 44 years. community: New York: Judge Emma Falls Scofield of Boston; Agnes McPhaU, a Canadian The first monthly rneeUngs of the One WC)S a reception for women Member of Parliament and Ruth Bryan Association were held In the homes of law students. The' first ''student tea" was Owne, America's first woman diplomat. members on the first Tuesday of each held soon after the Association was These functions were followed by more month, September through June. While formed, in Spring, 1919, at the Federa­ court assignments for women lawyers. the group was small, the social contacts tion of Womens Clubs. Among the stu· more recognition by other group5 and a served to strengthen professional ties; dent guests In attendance were - members came to know each other, to growing realization that women lawyers Da~d~. Regt?ne Freund (Cohane), were here to stay. 10 share each other's biumphs as well as Ste a ramer, Marjorie Baumgart4i!n acquired kn()w)edge and experience. (Bacon) and Anne Hackett. The fourth special WI..AM annual Inexperienced! lawyers c-ould seek help funcdon was the summer outing. In the For many years the receptions con­ from Wl.AM members who recogniud early years was typically picnic at tinued as teas. In her June, 1956 An· this a that the need for know)edge was cus­ a member's house. In her Annual Re­ nual Report, however. President Esther tomary among novices, not attributable port, President Morden referenced the A. Morden noted that "certain facts can­ to incapacity Inherent among women. 1956 summer outing, commenting that not be ignored . . . including the fat:t the "membership . apparently takes a The monthly meeting format soon that students take a dim view of teas." dim view of picnics ... " Heeding her expanded to Include .speakers on topics Despite this observation. tradition pre· ranging from specific professional con­ vailed and the format remained un­ advice, the summer outing in August, 1957 was a ''Day at the Rillces" h~ld in cerns to those of general interest. Meet­ changed until the early 1970s. when the cooperation with the Michigan Racing ings generally were held in the Detroit teas were transformed into wine and Association, and was noted a great area, probably most at the Women's cheese tasting receptions. Student par­ as 8 success. But in 1961 the group returned City Club. By the 1930s and 1940s a ticipation Increased noticeably. small number of meelin~JS were held at to the picnic/tea party format which it locations outside the D.etroit area, In­ In addition to student receptions, followed through 1966, after which the cluding Grand Rapids (d1;ring State Bar early traditional WLAM events included social summer outing was abandoned. a winter holiday party. an annual ban­ Conventions). Windsor (at the Manor Educational activities have ex­ quet and a summer outing. Beginning House). and in Ann Arbor at the Michi­ panded since 1970. In addition to semi­ gan League. Examples of .speakers in­ in the mid-1920s, fn\R0¥1ds::wt and nars and workshops for Wl.AM mem· her husband invite W M members l clude a 1938 meeting in Detroit In bers, a prominent addition has been the · ...... ,0 and their guests into their home for a honor of Lydia Zamenhof, a law Women and the law Conference, held Christmas party. Such parties continue graduate of tlrte University of Warsaw, either bi-annually or annually since ~ to be held in homes of members today. c and 1939 meeting In Ann Arbor with a 1974, presenting speakers of national speaker who had recE:nt!y returned The third traditional event was the and local prominence on topics of cur­ ..c~ u from the war zone in China. During the WLAM Banquet, one of the most rent interest to women and women :E 1960s, Lansing was alsc• added as an elaborate of the annual functions. It was lawyers. The Conference draws attend· occasional meeting site. held nearly each year from 1919 ance from throughout the state. \.0 Outing World War II the Associa­ through 1969. State, county and local The focus of WLAM has always in­ \.0 tion worked on variouE; programs to officials, judges and other guests were cluded political efforts as weU as its so­ ~ support the war effort. Ely its October, invited. Entertainment featured skits cial and educational events. As early as 1943 meeting, the Association could re­ and songs by WlAM members and 1920, WL.AM's legislative committees ~ port that it had sold approximately remarks by various distinguished were active Individually and In conjunc­ ..... speakers.· "'w" $200,000 In bonds during the Soap tion with other women's organizations c Box Campaign of the Third War Loan At the June 9, 1953 Annlversaty In endorsing and lobbying for leg1slatlon ~ Drive. Dinner the entertainment included a relevant to women. In 1977, recogniz­ ing the importance of constitutionally Interesting programs, of course, re­ Henrietta Rosenthal skit entitled ''Court's in Session" or "Give the Lady assured equality, WlAM became a quired considerable effort. For Instance, member of ERAmerica. In June, 1947 Martha Griffiths was Your Seat. " Comella Groetsema (Ken­ WU\M's Protram Chair. Among the nedy), Helen Bryant and MUdred vtalch Currently, the Wl..AM Legislative professional tpplcs recommended for were part of a large ca~t. The skit was so Committee is extremely active perform­ year-long discussion and research was successful that a sequel Wa$ presented Ing the crucial funct!ons of drafting and "Labor restrictions against Women. The at the 1954 Banquet. Many of the cast reviewing proposed legisladon of par· Purpose- to determine what discrimi­ from the original skit reappeared, along ticular significance to women and nation against women exists in the field with some new faces, Including Dorothy women lawyers, testifying at public ot labor and to bring about some reme­ Comstock (Riley). • heanngs and corresponding and meet­ dial action if possible." Among the featured women ing with local, state, and federal office ------WOMENINTHELAW holders. The Legislalill'e Committee first organization of Its kind In the United neys. For example, on April 28, 1965, also formulatE!!i policy, subject to the ap­ States. WlAM bc2eame an organiza­ Neuenfelt swore In Elza Papp as the first proval of the WlAM Board of Directors. tional member,_ar..l many of Its Indi­ woman circuit jUdge on the Gene:;ee In regard to public Issues such as the vidual members Je... the new Coundl. Circuit Court bench. A year later. in nght to choice on abortion, ERA. the Through Its affiliation, Wl.AM and its 1966, Comella Kennedy was elected to rtghts or women In the labor force and mt!mbers were kept up-to-date on the the Wayne County Circuit Court. legal protection for battered spouses. efforts to advance the cause of women Geraldine Bledsoe Ford was elected to as public office holders. Detroit Recorder's Court and Neuenfelt Among the gratifyi~ aspects of the was re-elected to the Wayne County growth and Increased recognition o·f the In the late 1940s and 1950s more Circuit Court ln 1967 Kennedy was ln­ Association In the 1970s. and the 1980s, WLAM members sought office. With the stall~d by sister JudQ'! Neuenfelt has been the frequent solicitation of Its support o{ a still small but growing views and dretfting assistance by mem­ membership. The December, 1948 Kennedy would distinguish herself bers o( the Michigan legislature. Wl.AM Newsletter congratulated mem­ with another "first" when on October bers Martha Griffiths and Dee Edwards 23, 1969 she was SlAlOm In as a United WL.AM has also steadily supported on their election to the State Legisla­ States District Judge, the first Michigan the advancement of women Into public ture. The folloWing year, In 1949, the woman to serve on the federal bench. and professional positions of Impor­ Association ~ongtatulated Mary Beck In 1968, Alice Gilbert was elected to the tance. In 1926, with active support by on her first ~lection to the Detroit Com· 48th District Court. several WLAM members, Lila Neuen­ mon Council. In 1953, WI...AM sent a felt was elected Justice of the Peace in The 1970s brought continuing letter to then Governor G. Mennen achievements, particularly resulting Fordson (now the eastern part of the Williams, advocating appointment of City of Dearborn). At that time she was fTom Increasing confidence among Martha Griffiths to Detroit Recorder's the youngest person in the state to hold women attorneys willing to seek ap­ Court. He did so, and Griffiths served in such a position. pointive and elective positions. An even that capacity until her election to the more vocal WLAM worked hard for the In 1932, when the Legislatur-e au­ United StatE!!i House of Representatives recognition of such women and ap· thorized additional judicial sea~s in in 1954. preciated the responsiveness of then Wayne County, WL.AM petitioned the In her June, 1957 year-end sum· Govemor William G. Milliken in a~­ Governor for appointment of a woman, mary, President Ruth Schurgin recom­ polnting many women to the bench. 1 suggesting several names. Although this mended that: "Our organization , . . The percentage of women judges in request went unheeded, as did many I ake a definite stand in the matter of rec­ Michigan had increased to 4.6% by similar request5 in those years, the situa· mmending and endorsing members, 1979. tion was partially corrected In 1941 by here they are qualified, for public of­ The trend has accelerated: In the election of Neuemfelt as the first ce or for service on committees or 1984, the percentage Is 7. 9% and the woman Circuit Court judge in Michigan. commissions where no competition be- total l5 4 7. See chart at page 451. In In 1943 the "Inter-Group Ce)undl 1tween members exists. . . . " Shortly 1972, Probate Judge Mary Coleman of for Women in Public Policy Making Po­ thereafter, in November, 1957, the As­ Battle Creek was elected to the Su­ sitions" was formed to deal with the fact sociation celebrated Mary V. Beck's preme Court, the first woman to serve that "between 1920 and 1940 lnclu· election as the first woman President of on that Court in Its 137-year history. In sive, only eleven women held elective the Detroit Common Council. 1978. she was selected by her col­ or appointive policy· making positions In The 1960s Wltne!ised further (albeit leagues as Michigan's first woman Chief government In Michigan. " This was the selected) successes for women attor- Justice. ....

K•r•n Colby WelneP., J.D. 1877, Unl· veralty of Detroit Lllw School, vw•• law clerk to then Aaao~lete Jultlct G. Mennen Wllllama(1177·79) and an aaaoclete with Dickinson, Wright, Moon, Van Duaen It Freeman (1879· 83). Weiner aervtd •• WLAM Preal· dent, 1981-t2, WLAM Tre•11urer, t t8CHI1, VIce Preaklent for WL.AM'a Wayne County Region, 1179-80, and II cur,.ntly enrolled In ortduate atudletln clinical plychology.

Elelne Frott, J.D. 1110, George Wllhlngton Unlvel!tlty, Ia currently a labor •rbltrator and practicing It· torney In Detroit. Froat aerved •• WLAM VIce Prealdent, 1177·78 end WL.AM Hlatorlan,197t·77. WOMENINTHELAW------In 1974 th~ Wl.AM Political Advi­ nently altered mcn't npedadona sory Committee (PAC) was established. about what Womo!n l•wy..,~• can According to Its by-laws thr. PAC had be.... " exclusive authorii!Y to endorse on behalf of WLAM any candidates or potential The authors e~ttend partJc:ular gratitude to tJ/1 appointees for judicial or QIJasl-Judicial who have profl/ded information and lWis· office. Criteria for endor.~ement In· tan~. including the following· eluded a "demonstrated int-erest In csd­ The Ia~ Henrietta E. ROSilnthal who, In vzmcing the cause of women In general 1951, toolr the time to r«ord .some of the and women in the legal profession." history of Women Lllwyers AssoclatJon of Michigan in which she played such ~ flgnili­ On October 21, 1974 the ftrst en­ cantrole. dorsements relallng to the 55 judicial Anne R Dnvlqo"( and Regene Freund candidates then running for office In Cohlfntt wfio haw shared a we.a/th of Infor­ Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties mation about thBmS41Jves .mel the Assoda- were published. ln contrast to WlAM's 1/on. early years, its PAC endorr.ements are Marcia E. Femrite who volunteered her time today actively sought by many candi­ and assistance in the preparation of this dates, male and fiemale. · article. By the mtd-19705 WLAM experi­ In addition, the authon express their enced an lnfluK of membership from the gratih.Jde tJnd the gratitude of Women growing numbers of women entering La~n Association of Michigan to the the profession. Because these women many members who have made slgnillc.!nt contributions to the AS!Oeiation and their were practicing throughout the state, male counterparts, succeed in finding 12 profession, but who. by reason of time. re­ the membership undertook a major law-related employment. ~JJrch lfnd space llmitiltions, atv 11ot person­ reorganization In 1975. This was com· Although progress has been made ally ff!Cognlzed wfthin this tuticle. pleted in 1977 with adoption of a re­ to increase access to opportunities with­ vised Constitution and B11-laws, pur­ In and without the profession, WLAM Is Footnotea suant to which a regional structure was still needed to provide personal support 1. Two yea..s after Killgore's admiulon to the created under the umbrella of the State and as a vehicle through which women State Bar of Michigan, the United Stal83 Su­ Association. attorneys work to achieve recognition pn!me Court handl!d down Ill opinion In Brad.-11 v Slzltfl, 16 Wall 130 !1873). in The structure permits formation of not only as equals in their profession, which It upheld the refusal ot th• SlAte of 11· WlAM regional organizations consl,t­ but as csn Identifiable segment of the llnoit to admit Myra Bradwell 10 the pr!llclice lng of ten or mC!lre members in a single profession whose unique experiences of law based 501e~ on the feet thar she was a serve the goals of a representative and woman. Justiu Bradley, In hi! frequently county or contiguous counties. Each quoted concuning opinion, cited his beli"f Region is repnesented on the State representing Bar. that, "(t)he natun! and proper timidity an<:l Board of Directors in addition to having Just as the history of the activities delicacy which belongs to tile femlllll !!ell evi · its own officers and Board. Currently of WLAM presented In this article was dendy unfits it for many of the occupations of <:11AII!fe, .. Brad.wn, 5upn, p. 141. there are eleven WI.AM llegions: Bay complied from infonnation, both writ­ Area; Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawas­ ten and oral, retained and supplied by 2. In 1960, only about 3~ of the nadon's law see; Livingston; Mac•lmb; Mid­ school graduates were women. "Women in women with a sense of ~rsonal pur· the legal Pmlesalon: A'Progreu Report." 67 Michigan; Oakli\nd (Women's Bar As­ pose and commitment to others, so, ABAJouml!/578. 579 (May, 1981). sociation); Southwestern; St. Clair; too, the "why" of Wl.AM, the reasons 3. Henrietta Rosenthal. "History of Women Wuhtenaw; Wayne County and West­ for Its fonnatlon In 1919 and Its con­ UW\1111"11 Aaoclallon of Michigan," 1951, un­ ern Michigan. tinued existence Into the 1980s, lnvol· publlihed essay. ves personal purpose and commitment This reorganization accomplishes 4. Speech before the WlAM at the 1983 SIIIIA! Bar of Mldllgan Annual Meeting, dellv11red several goals, lncludlrig facilitatk>n of to others. As Justice Boyle said In her address to WLAM members In 1983: by Michigan SupNme Court Auoda14 Jus· regular membership meetings at geo­ lice Pab1cla J. Boyle, Septembi!f 28, 1983. " • • . The Women Lawyers Auocla· graphically convenient locations and es· 5. By November, 1921 WLAM memb4lrship tabllshment of an effectl\le method of tlon of Michigan can justlftabllf be had risen to twenty-two. By Octobet. 1930 dealing with Important kx:al Issues as congratulated for havlnt moved the the membef!lhlp bt revealed sixty-six lawyer entire legal community toward the well as statewide Issues. mcrnben and two M&Odate m.rmbers. In the realization of true equality of oppor· 194011, 19505 and 1960s membership w.u Notwithstanding the foregoing ac­ tunlty for women ln the profusion. In approldmately 100, most of whrnn were large part, becauwe of thia group'• cf. practicing attorneys. In 1975 membership complishments of the Association and griiW to 125, In January, 1976 to 150 attar· Individual members, the goals of the As­ fo.U It Ia much more likely that a woman admitted to the State Bar of neys plus 15 student membc.rs and by De­ cember, 1976 membership 5tood at 115 sociation remilin unfulfilled. For exam· Michigan today will be treated lolltth pie, women judges currently sit In only lawyers plua 50 51:\identa. Then, tile Impact of dignity and that ehe will have acc:ee• lncrQMd numbers of women In law school& 14 of Michigan's 83 counties. Further· to the material, Intellectual and In· swelled the membel"'lhlp. Cu,.ent total mem­ more, statistics Indicate that each year a fluentlal rlcMI that thla profesalon bership ew.ceeds 800. smaller percentage of women law haa to offer. We have not achieved school graductte.s, as opposed to their full equaltty, but we have ... penna- (continued on pap 506) • WOMENINTHELAW------­ 1 woMEN I..AWVBRS: PERSF= ECTIVES ON SUCCESS. Courlc, WOMEN, CRIME AND JUSTICE. Oatesford, Susan I<.; Scar­ Emllv. editor. N.Y.: Law ·l Business, Inc.; Harcourt Brace piltl, Frank R •• editors. New Yol't(: OxfOrd University Preu; Jovanovich; 1984.. 1980;376p. Women's name rignte. MARC;)UETTE LAW REVIEW: 1976; 59: WOMEN. WORK, AND HEALTH: CHAllENGE TO CORPO­ 876-899. RATE POLICY. Walsh, D.C.; Egdahl, R.H.. editors. N.Y.: WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND THE LAW: THE IMPACT OF THE Spnnger·Vert&g; 1980. ERA ON STATE LAWS. Brown. Barbara A. (and others}. WOMEN, WORK AND WAGES: EQUAL PAY FOR JOBS OF New York: Praeger; 1977:432 p. EQUAL VALUE. Treiman, Donald J.; Hartmann, Heidi 1., WOMEN'S SELF-DEFENSE CASES: THEORY AND PRAC· editors. Washington: National Academy Presa; 1981; 136 p. TICE. Bochnak, Elizabttth, editor. Charlottesville, Va.: Michie: c1981; 312 p.

Women Lawvers Assc)ciation of Michigan .... contfnuecl from page 468

6. Ro5enthal, wpra. wt111ng her second term on the OhiO Su­ Coul1; Je~slca R Cooper. 46th District Court; pn~me Court. PrB.5id41!nt Franklin D. HUda R. Gage, Oa~nd County Circuit 7. In 1920, ar the ilQ8 of 20. Cohane had com· Roosevelt appolnled her to the United S~tes Coun: Lucil41 A. Waltl. Detroit Common pleted all r~tqulsl!e& for admis

Oakland County Bar Celebra~es 50th Anniversary

The foi/Dwing Resolution was 11dopted by the State Bar Board of CommiSSioners at its May 4, 1984 meeting:

WHEREAS, On the 20th day of July 1934, ftve attomeys specific­ largest bar association In the State of Michigan numbering over ally: Harold E. Howlett. H. Russell Holland, David C. Pence, Clark two-thousand, five-hundred. seventy·flve (2575) members. which J. Adams and lawrence Moloney, all with offices lp Oakland number exceeds the population of a number of State Bar Associa· .,... County did gather together for ths purpose of signing the Articles !Ions; and of Incorporation for a Non·Profll Corporation to be known ~~ the WHEREAS, Said As5oclalion has continuously had among Its County Bar Association; and Oakland members numerous local, State and Ne~tlonalleaders: and WHEREAS, ll'he purpos.! of that Corporation was "to create a per· WHEREAS, Said Association has produced three President& of rhe manent organization of certain persons qualified to pr~u:tice law In State Bar of Michigan; and the State of Mlchlgon which shiJU have the power to acquire. hold and dispose c:tf personal and real property, and which organization WHEREAS, h continues to lead, be lnnovlllt!ve and cany out will foster andi promote the ideals of the I. profession; ·• and numerous programs for the enhancement of justice and to Improve lhe Image of the legal profession; WHEREAS, That organization has been continually In operation since that dat~ and is c;urrently preparing to celebra~ Its 50th An­ NOW. THEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED, That the State Bar of niversary In commemoration of that elate; and Ml()hlgan hereby declares June 2, 1984 as Oakland County Bar Association Day and calls upon the other Bttr Associatlon5 in the WHEREAS. J!)uring that fifty years the officers and members of this State to join In recognizing the achievements and goodwill gener­ Association have sought continuously to uphold the Ideals as set ated by the Oakland County Bar Association on behalf of the legal forth In the ollglnal pu~ of that Incorporation; and profession. And be It further resolved that a copy of this Re50lut!on WHEREAS, This organiza!lon has now grown to be the second be printed in the State Bar Journal for June 1984.