Category: Law and Law Enforcement
-
Betty Lester
1945-2021 Worked in Public Defenders Office. In 1977 appointed a Municipal Court Judge at age 31. In 1985 appointed to the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey. First African American woman…
-
Laura Mayo Wilson
1871-1963 First woman to graduate the New Jersey Law School, along with Lulu Kinsgsland Garrabrant (who was never admitted to the bar). New Jersey Law School became Rutgers Law School, in Newark in…
-
Barbara George
c. 1953-2000 First woman and first African American woman police captain. Weequahic graduate. Sharpe James called her a “trailblazer, role model and…hero”. Sister of Gigi Foushee. Previously first female sergeant in Police Department…
-
Myrna Milan-Rivera
1954- First Hispanic Newark municipal judge in 1988. Active with the Puerto Rican Congress and Aspira. In 1992, she was nominated for business administrator in Elizabeth and resigned in 1994. She was a…
-
Mary Philbrook
1872-1958 First female attorney admitted to the bar in New Jersey. Practiced in Newark for many years. Bibliography “New Jersey Women’s History”. New Jersey Women’s Histor. 2020. Hendrickson, Lisa. “Biographical Sketch of Mary Philbrook”. Alexander Street.…
-
Irene Rutherford O’Crowley
1885-1974 Born in Newark, early woman lawyer. Attended Barringer High School. Graduated from NJ Law School 1919 as VP of her class. First President of the Newark chapter of Zonta International. She was…
-
Ruth Crumpton Dargan
1921-2010 Became a Newark policewoman in 1949. First Newark woman detective chosen for the Homicide Squad and sent to Quantico for advanced criminal investigation. She was the only woman chosen to initiate the…
-
Thelma Gillis
1916-2003 First woman and first non-law school grad assistant chief of the municipal court clerks of the City of Newark. Named in 1971, deputy municipal court clerk in 1965. She was the sister…