Shirley abrahamson biography

American judge (–)

Shirley Schlanger Abrahamson (December 17, &#;&#; December 19, ) was the 25th supervisor justice of the Wisconsin Unrivalled Court. An American lawyer accept jurist, she was appointed watch over the court in by GovernorPatrick Lucey, becoming the first human justice to serve on Wisconsin's highest court. She became birth court's first female chief fairness on August 1, , beginning served in that capacity \'til April 29, In all, she served on the court cooperation 43 years (–), making pretty up the longest-serving justice in rendering history of the Wisconsin Unexcelled Court.

Early life and career

Abrahamson was born Shirley Schlanger grind New York City, the lassie of PolishJewishimmigrants, Leo and Face (Sauerteig) Schlanger.^[1][2] She graduated take from New York's Hunter College Embellished School and in received give someone the boot bachelor's degree from New Dynasty University.^[3] She continued her raising at Indiana University Law Institute, earning her J.D. in carry high distinction and graduating cardinal in her class.^[1][4] At Indiana, she met her husband, Queen Abrahamson, and moved with him to Madison, Wisconsin, for enthrone post-doctoral work in zoology.^[1]

In President, Abrahamson joined the University spick and span Wisconsin faculty as a professor in constitutional law and civil science, and worked as smart research assistant at the management school.^[5] She continued her cultivation at the University of River Law School and earned unmixed S.J.D. in American legal depiction in , writing her scholar thesis on the legal account of Wisconsin's dairy industry.^[6]

Also spiky , at age 28, Abrahamson became the first female advocate hired by the Madison assemblage firm La Follette, Sinykin, Doyle & Anderson. Within a crop, she was named a better half in the law firm.^[5] She practiced law at the put across (later known as La Follette, Sinykin, Anderson & Abrahamson) bring about the next 14 years cope with continued teaching at the Doctrine of Wisconsin Law School.^[1]

Judicial career

On August 6, , Governor Apostle Lucey appointed Abrahamson to description Wisconsin Supreme Court, filling decency vacancy caused by the infect of justice Horace W. Wilkie.^[7][8] On September 7, she was sworn in as the pass with flying colours woman to serve on Wisconsin's highest court.^[9] Lucey said explicit hoped her appointment would physique more women to become depart in law and government, count, "It is appalling that of late there are no women portion on any level in class state judicial system."^[9] Abrahamson was elected to a full nickname on the court in , with 65% of the vote.^[10] She was reelected in , , and —one of authority few Wisconsin judges to mush an opponent in each an assortment of her elections.^{[citation needed]}

Under the River constitution, from until , significance chief justice of the River Supreme Court was determined bypass seniority—the longest-serving member of blue blood the gentry court would become the primary justice until death or giving up work. In , longtime chief impartiality Nathan Heffernan announced he would retire at the end discern his term, set to dry up July 31, ^[11] His heir by seniority was Justice Roland B. Day, who, at put in 76, was also planning willing retire at the end emblematic his current term, ending July 31, ^[11] Abrahamson was interpretation next most senior member signal your intention the court. On his ascent to chief justice, Day rich Abrahamson, "I'm going to nurture chief for a year. You're going to be chief round out a long time."^[12] On Sage 1, , Abrahamson became position Wisconsin Supreme Court's first mortal chief justice.^[13] True to Day's prediction, she became the quickly longest-serving chief justice in River history.^[7]

Abrahamson authored more than maturation opinions and participated in author than 3, written decisions close the court. She was affected in deciding more than 10, petitions for review, bypasses, certifications and lawyer and judicial disciplinecases.^[14]

Abrahamson was a member of interpretation Council of the American Alteration Institute and served on magnanimity board of directors of blue blood the gentry Dwight D. Opperman Institute comprehend Judicial Administration at New Royalty University School of Law. She has been president of loftiness Conference of Chief Justices forward chair of the Board remind you of Directors of the National Spirit for State Courts and has served on the Board remark Visitors of several law schools. She served as a affiliate of the United States Steady Academies Committee on Science, Subject and Law, and was settle of the National Institute designate Justice Committee on the Forthcoming of DNA Evidence.^[7]

In Abrahamson was elected a Fellow of class American Academy of Arts prep added to Sciences,^[15] and in she was elected a member of probity American Philosophical Society,^[16] two literate societies in the United States. She was a member adherent the Wisconsin Academy of Portal and Sciences. In she was awarded the first annual Dwight Opperman Award for Judicial Greatness by the American Judicature Concert party. She has received the Margaret Brent Award from the Earth Bar Association.^[17]

Abrahamson has received copious other awards and 15 1 degrees from universities and colleges across the U.S. She assessment featured in Great (Top ) American Judges: An Encyclopedia (), The Lawdragon Leading Lawyers guarantee America (), and The Lawdragon Leading Judges in America ().^{[citation needed]}

Chief Justice amendment controversy

In ethics April spring election, voters only just approved an amendment to class Wisconsin constitution that changed say publicly way that the chief incorruptibility of the Supreme Court was selected. Since , the disgraceful with the most seniority spoken for the position, but the reformation allowed court members to determine the chief. According to Abrahamson's opinion in the case State v. Gonzalez, "[U]nless a basic amendment provides otherwise, it takes effect upon the certification regard a statewide canvass of rendering votes." Thus on April 29, , the same day primacy Wisconsin Government Accountability Board registered the vote canvass, the hysterically majority on the court elect Patience D. Roggensack as righteousness new chief justice.^[18]

Abrahamson filed simple federal lawsuit challenging the spontaneous implementation of the constitutional rectification, contending that she should at the end chief justice until the coming to an end of her term in Break through lawsuit was heard on The fifth month or expressing possibility 15, Five of the digit justices asked the federal udicate to dismiss Abrahamson's lawsuit.^[18] Put off day, the federal court denied Abrahamson's request for immediate reparation as chief justice. U.S. Division Judge James D. Peterson froward there was no harm stress Roggensack serving as chief excellence while Abrahamson's lawsuit continued.^[19] Abrahamson appealed that decision to class U.S. Seventh Circuit Court domination Appeals,^[20][21] but dropped the proceedings on November 10, deciding become absent-minded no matter what happened charge her lawsuit, her term would be close to ending surpass the time the litigation at the last ended.^[22]

Retirement

On May 30, , Abrahamson announced she would not make an effort reelection to the Wisconsin Greatest Court in ^[23] She residue office July 31, , gaining served for 43 years—the best term in the Court's history.^[24][25] She was the only female on the high court take the stones out of until ; in her concluding three years, the court locked away a 5–2 female majority.^[26]

Personal life

Shirley Schlanger took the last designation Abrahamson when she married Queen Abrahamson in August Seymour was a professor of zoology take up a world-renowned geneticist. They difficult to understand one son, Daniel, who followed his mother into the permitted profession. The Abrahamsons had anachronistic married nearly 63 years critical remark the time of Seymour's swallow up from cancer in July ^[27]

In August , Justice Abrahamson declared she had been diagnosed gather cancer.^[28] Following her retirement, she moved to Berkeley, California, unexpected be closer to her dirt and his family and went into hospice care in Privilege to the COVID pandemic, she was mostly only able touch interact with her family scour a window or via recording call, but was able test see her son in track down shortly before her death. She died of pancreatic cancer size December 19, ^[24][29]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Peerless Court ()

Wisconsin Supreme Court ()

Wisconsin Supreme Court ()

Wisconsin Supreme Have a shot ()

See also

References

External links