Sisters in Law Luncheon: 100 Years of Women at UB Law 1999

Segment Synopsis: Opening statement about the event schedule. Explaining they must work through lunch due to afternoon program at UB Law School. Starting from left, Judge LaMendola, Judge Cyganowski, Judge Mikoll, Judge Denman, Nils Olsen (stand in for Judge Koshian), Professor Lucinda Finley. Hoping for lighthearted theme of celebration at luncheon. Morning program focused on the struggle of women in justice. Afternoon program will focus on managing money and other challenges. List in the program of the four individuals honored today as well as graduates of UB Law School currently serving as members of the judiciary. Two omitted from list that will be revised, Erie Country Family Court Judge, Margery Mix, and Chautauqua County Family Court Judge, Honorable Judith Claire. Announcing reading of Hillary Clinton letter and introducing Professor Finley. Finley reading letter. Hillary Clinton expresses regret for not coming to luncheon. As first chair of the ADA committee on the status of women in 1988, Clinton selected Finley to be first reporter for that commission. Worked together for a year. Letter from Clinton reads, "Dear friends, I am pleased to have this opportunity to send greetings to each of you celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first women graduates from the law school at SUNY Buffalo. It is wonderful you have come together this afternoon......" Continuation of letter from Clinton, "In July 1998 I was honored to speak at the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY.....This afternoon's celebration recognizes that if women flourish, families flourish, and if families flourish communities and nations flourish...." Announcing guest speaker, Judge Cyganowski and her service in bankruptcy court, other employments and articles and her connection to Buffalo.

Keywords: Being a Lawyer; Career / Gender; Career / Professional Experience; City of Buffalo; Distinction; Gender; Jaeckle, Edwin; Legal Community; UB

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; CAREER: LEGAL; GENDER; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Thanks those from the state and federal courts, Supreme Court Justice LaMendola, students, alumni, Dean Olsen, Professor Finley, etc. Today is a moment she had not dreamed of when she journeyed O'Brian Hall in the late 1970's as law student, with pillars of our legal and social community, and that she would be appointed to serve as US Judge in Bankruptcy and asked to speak at a luncheon honoring these distinguished female judges. Today celebrating an event that happened in 1899 when the first women graduated from our law school. Reflection on 100 yrs. The UB Law School that Helen Rodgers and Cecil Wiener entered in 1897 is a far cry from that which is found at the Amherst Campus. Cost of tuition for an academic year was $100. The home of the law school was the Ellicott Sq. building in downtown Buffalo. Initially affiliated with Niagara University, in 1890 sought independence and eventually was affiliated with the University of the State of New York under the supervision of the Board of Regents. Dean was Aldelbert Luke who served until 1902. Law school did not require any pre-law qualifications. School was enjoying many accolades from the bench and from the bar. In 1896 when UB Law School was less than 10 yrs old, review by the state board of bar examiners revealed that the school had the highest number of graduates passing the bar exam of any other law school in the nation. Of the 50 candidates of the law school, 47 passed on the first effort, 2 on their second. Class of 1896 boasted 50 students, class of Rogers and Wiener was 32. In 1898 America at war. Shortage of available male candidates opened admissions doors for women. In 1873 Illinois Supreme Court denied Myra Bradwell's appeal for admission to the Illinois bar. Stated in its ruling, "The paramount destiny and mission of women are to fulfill the noble and benign offices of wife and mother. This is the law of the creator." Letter to the editor printed in 1914 edition of NY Sun, "It is an ordeal for a woman at the outset of her practice to encounter in person of the opposing council a courteous and well-bred gentleman who is thinking that she has no place in the courtroom. If she is a good looking woman she should be married. If she is not good looking, she should be dead." In 1890 a federal census showed there were 135 women lawyers and law students in the US. In 1892 the US Supreme Court reversed the lower court ruling and granted Bradwell admission to the Illinois bar, retroactive to the date of her first petition in 1869. By 1918 the number of female lawyers exceeded 700 and the American Bar Assoc. opened it's membership doors to women for the first time. Not until 1942 that Katherine Noise Lee was named partner in Water, Wikishare and Taft, 18 yrs after joining the firm as the first female law associate on Wall St. Honorable Cecilia Guess graduated from NYU Law School in 1940, was editor in chief of NYU Law Quarterly. Despite accomplishments, nobody would hire her besides her father. In 1948, in order to be appointed to serve as the first female prosecutor in the Nuremberg War Crimes trials, the chief prosecutor had to sign a waiver of a disability, the disability being her gender. Judge Guess became first woman appointed to the federal bench, sworn in as bankruptcy judge in 1978. Open-mindedness at UB Law School in 1897 sharp contrast from that found elsewhere. 50 years later, in 1949 Dean of Harvard Law school announced the school will admit female law students for the first time. Quote from Harvard Dean. President Truman's response to pressure to appoint Florence Ellinwood Allen as first woman on US Supreme Court. Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed to serve as first women on US Supreme Court in 1981. 1981 Walter Matthau film, "The First Monday in October" about a woman appointed to Supreme Court. Since 1993 there are two female voices on Supreme Court after appointment of Justice Ruth Ginsberg. Reviewing US history; statistics show first woman appointed to federal judiciary by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in nominating Florence Ellinwood Allen to the 6 circuit bench in 1934. No other woman appointment followed until 1950 when President Truman appointed Bernida Shelton Matthews to the district court of DC. Numbers appointed by President Eisenhower, one by JFK, 3 by President Lyndon Johnson. President Lyndon Johnson appoints Constance Favor Motley as the first woman and the first black woman to serve in that district court of the southern district of New York. President Carter nominated 40 women to the federal bench, Presidents Reagan and Bush nominated 32 and 36. President Clinton nominated 88 women to federal bench, surpassing all. President Clinton appointed Janet Reno in 1993. Statistics of women as bankruptcy judges. First UB woman graduates, Helen Rogers and Cecil Wiener, went on to distinguished careers; active in politics, woman's suffrage, private practice, and family court. Highest court in NYS led by Judge Judith Kay, 4th department led by Dolores Denman. Judge Anne Mikoll and Judge Haggard, both UB Law graduates, among the first women appointed to Buffalo City Court. In the early 1990's, women made up only 40 percent of first year law students, 24 percent of total law school teaching population, and 25 percent in the entire legal profession. Glass ceiling cracking, women becoming law professors and partners in firms. In closing, toasting the founding fathers of our law school that they had the wisdom to open doors to women law students...and to the leaders of law firms, business and gov. that they will emulate spirit of our founding fathers...and to women law students of today and tomorrow continuing journey of our mothers from yesterday.

Keywords: Being a Lawyer; Career / Gender; Career / Professional Experience; City of Buffalo; Distinction; Gender; Law School History; UB

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; CAREER: LEGAL; EDUCATION; GENDER; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Jaeckle award luncheon timely in relationship to theme of today's luncheon. Jaeckle Award being given to distinguished female alumni. Margaret Thatcher quote, "If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman." The four women honored today are among the most distinguished graduates from UB Law School. Gift giving to the four candidates. First to Dolores Denman.

Keywords: Career / Gender; Jaeckle, Edwin; Law School History; UB

Subjects: GENDER

Segment Synopsis: Introduction of Denman. Started as City Court Judge and went on to Supreme Court then on to the Appellate Division. Speaker remembers Denman running for Attorney General in 1979 during newspaper strike. Denman reappointed to Supreme Court and then became presiding justice of the 4th Department, the first woman to be so designated. Dolores Denman is a great friend of UB. Recipient of the Capen Award, and was the first woman to receive Jaeckle Award. Great and beautiful person inside and out. Deciding on a vase as the gift. Deman's comments: Entered UB Law school in 1962 with only 5 other women at the University. Dean Hyman warned her when she entered law school that she might not get a job because nobody wanted to hire women. UB Law gave her great foundation. Remained in good touch with law school and alumni association. Feels great about the women at UB. In a relatively short time since 1962 when she entered the school with only 5 women, there are now so many accomplished women.

Keywords: City of Buffalo; Distinction; Gender; Humor; UB

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; EDUCATION; GENDER

Segment Synopsis: Announcing Jacqueline Koshian, biographical sketch in the program. She is highly well regarded judge in Niagara County. Started as City Court Judge. Koshian a beautiful person and well loved judge by the lawyers and judges in the area. When speaker campaigned for Supreme Court in 1991 always encountered comparisons with Koshian and praise that she represents what a judge should be and what a woman should be. Koshian very open about illness that is physically debilitating, works every single day, remains mentally sharp. Article on front page of Niagara Falls newspaper. In her absence, Nils Olsen accepts Koshian's award. Olsen a resident of Niagara County. Particular honor for him to accept this award on behalf of Judge Koshian, understanding the extraordinary quality of justice that resides in the Supreme Court position in Niagara County. She is universally well respected.

Keywords: Career / Gender; Character and Values; City of Buffalo; Gender

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; CAREER: LEGAL; GENDER; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Next honoree is Rose LaMendola. Speaker remembers story from 15 yrs ago when she was first admitted to the bar and Judge LaMendola said to those on the panel, "Girl to girl, sister to sister, when you are running for office...you have to raise money." She said you must think enough of yourself and have enough self-esteem to run for office and ask people to help you raise money. Speaker has remembered LaMendola's message ever since and her grace in conveying that message to other women lawyers. Speaker asked to designate those among honorees who are retiring. Confirms that LaMendola is retiring and is "really retiring." La Mendola has great fondness for UB Law School. Thankful to be admitted one of four. "The millennium and I are going out together."

Keywords: Being a Lawyer; Career / Gender; Career / Professional Experience; Character and Values; UB

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; EDUCATION; GENDER

Segment Synopsis: Mikoll has respect statewide, sits in the 3rd dept in Albany. In addition to her work as a judge, Mikoll has been loyal to her community and Villa Maria. Presenting Mikoll with her vase, as her seat is up, asking if she is retiring or "really retiring." Thanks law school for making such a special event in memory of the many sisters that preceded in the law. Grateful to the law school for preparing her for the challenges of a taxing profession. "To the young women here, I would say it is a joy to be happy and to be fulfilled in one's work. To find a perfect niche in life. This was my good fortune in my career." Following her first cousin, a graduate of UB law, Mikoll was admitted to the city court of Buffalo at 27 yrs old, only a possibility because there was a greater acceptance of women. In 1971 when she ran for the Supreme Court, big discussion under way, that is, should a woman be appointed by the President to the Supreme Court of the US. When she was appointed to 3rd department she went with some trepidation. To her pleasure, found that the court had state-wide influence in areas of the law that effect all parts of the state. Wants to be an influence on younger lawyers. Congratulates UB Law School for the number of opportunities it offers women and the great number of women that are admitted. When she entered the 3rd department, they had not even had a woman secretary. Today most of the research staff are women, 3 women on the bench, and total change in attitude toward women and quality of the law produced in that department. Looking for a job. Not finished yet, wants to do some things and be heard. Congratulations. Announcing programs all afternoon at the law school.

Keywords: Being a Lawyer; Career / Gender; Career / Professional Experience; City of Buffalo; Community Service; Distinction; Legal Education; UB

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; CAREER: LEGAL; EDUCATION; LAW