The New Justice League

Women have been fighting to be a part of the justice system throughout this country's history. 

In 1869, Arabella Mansfield was granted admission to practice law in Iowa; making her the First Woman Lawyer. She was formally admitted to the Iowa State Bar after a ruling in the Iowa courts in her favor.

A year later, Ada H. Kepley, of Illinois, graduated from the Union College of Law in Chicago. She was the first woman lawyer to graduate from a law school.

Even after some of the first women had achieved success, it was still not an easy road for women trying to practice law in this country. 

In 1872, Myra Bradwell filed a petition with the U. S. Supreme Court to appeal the decision of the Illinois Supreme Court. Even though she had completed her legal studies and passed the bar examination, they denied her admission to the state bar.  The Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision. She was eventually granted license in 1890.

In 1879, Belva A. Lockwood was the first woman attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Charlotte E. Ray, a Howard University graduate, was the first African American woman lawyer. She was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1872. She applied for admission under the name C. E. Ray. The admissions committee thought she was a male so the application went through without problems.

In 2010, 31.5% of lawyers in the United States were women. 

Ms. MD

Elizabeth Blackwell was The First Woman Doctor in the United States. She was admitted in 1848 to Geneva Medical College of New York as a fluke. The faculty thought the application was a practical joke by a rival school.


Blackwell graduated at the head of her class. 


Her sister, Emily Blackwell, had more of a challenge getting accepted into a program. She eventually completed her medical studies at Case Western Reserve University and went on to become a doctor as well. 


Blackwell went to Paris to get clinical experience in the care and treatment of women (gynecology) especially the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth (obstetrics).


She then returned to the United States to not be able to find a job. So she, her sister, and another woman doctor - Marie Zakrewska; opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children.


In late 1860s, The Blackwell sisters founded the Women's Medical College in New York City to advance women's opportunity in the medical field. 

Today MORE than 30% of the US Doctors are Female.

05 When You Believe cover by Siobhan Magnus

POWomen

During WWII, 78 US Military Nurses were held as prisoners of war in the Philippines for over 3 years. 

During the Battle of the Philippines 1941-1942, the nurses along with American civilians were taken captive by the Japanese occupation forces in Manila. 

66 Army Nurses, 11 Navy Nurses, and 1 other nurse were forced into interment camps. They continued throughout their captivity to serve as nurses and care for other prisoners.  


They were almost starved to death during their time there. The POWs lost an average of 30% of their body weight during internment.

They were liberated in February 1945.

"THE ANGELS OF BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR" 

WWII NURSE POWs - NEVER FORGOTTEN