March 3, 1879 – First Woman Admitted to Practice Before U.S. Supreme Court
Lockwood overcame many social and personal obstacles related to gender restrictions.
Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood becomes the first female attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1876, because of the Court’s refusal to admit women to practice before it “until such a change is required by statute,” Lockwood will undertake three years of Congressional lobbying, resulting in passage of H.R. 1077 “to relieve certain legal disabilities of women.”. A lawyer, author, and women’s rights activist, Lockwood will run for election as President of the United States in 1884 and 1888.
Related Resources:
- Audio: Gender Discrimination in the Workplace(Justice Talking)
- Belva Lockwood: Blazing the Trail for Women in Law(National Archives and Records Administration)
- Women and the Law (FindLaw)
In: findlaw