|
The history of women in the Milwaukee County judiciary reaches back 130 years to September 20, 1892. On that day, Mrs. Kate Hamilton Pier was appointed as a Milwaukee County Court Commissioner. She became the first and only woman holding that office in the United States at the time – and, coincidentally, became the first woman to hold a judicial office in Wisconsin.
Mrs. Piers' own lawyering paved the way for her appointment. In 1891, her all-women law firm successfully secured the statutory amendments that removed bans prohibiting women attorneys from serving as court commissioners.
It would be another 80 years before a woman would serve as a Milwaukee County judge. In 1971, Governor Lee Dreyfus appointed Vel Philips to Children’s Court -- she thereby became the County's first woman judge. In 2009, the Wauwatosa building in which she served her judgeship was named in her honor as the Vel R. Phillips Youth & Family Justice Center.
It would be another 40 years before women constituted about 20% of the Milwaukee County judiciary. However in 2022 the County reached an equity milestone: of the County's 47 judgeships, 23 (49%) are held by women, as pictured below. Further, the County's municipal courts are approaching gender equity as well; more that 40% of the 19 muni judges are women.
During Women's History Month we look back with gratitude to the courageous women who persevered and paved the way for other women; who created opportunity for others while inspiring them to do the same in turn.
The courthouse and those who work within it are very different than they were in 1892. If trailblazing Mrs. Pier were a court commissioner today in Milwaukee County, she would have more women colleagues than men.
HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH 2023
Judge Hannah C. Dugan
Milwaukee County Circuit Court
| 
