Wisconsin's first female Supreme Court justice dies at age 87
Shirley Abrahamson served on the court for 43 years, the longest tenure of any justice.
Updated: 10:00 PM CST Dec 20, 2020
WEBVTT LIKE: -- MIKE WHILE THE WORK OF : THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IS BEING WATCHED CLOSELY IN WISCONSIN, THERE WAS BIG NEWS LAST WEEK CONCERNING THE STATE SUPREME COURT. JUSTICE SHIRLEY ABRAHAMSON ANNOUNCED SHE INTENDS TO RETIRE AT THE END OF HER TERM NEXT SUMMER. ABRAHAMSON, THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE, BEGAN HER FIRST 10 YEAR TERM ON AUGUST 6, 1976. SHE WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR PATRICK LUCEY, AND BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE ON THE COURT. A NATIVE NEW YORKER, FORMER PROFESSOR, AND PRIVATE ATTORNEY, THERE IS NO DENYING THAT ABRAHAMSON HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON JUSTICE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. WHILE SHE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY DISPUTE THE CHARACTERIZATION, SHE IS SEEN AS PART OF THE COURT'S CURRENT LIBERAL MINORITY. AND SHE HAS HER FANS AND HER CRITICS. THIS WAS ABRAHAMSON IN THE SPRING OF 2009, DURING HER FINAL REELECTION CAMPAIGN. >> AT PRIOR EVENTS, USES THE TERM JUDICIAL ACTIVISM TO LABEL YOU. WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT? >> NO ONE KNOWS WHAT A JUDICIAL ACTIVIST MEANS. I WILL GIVE YOU A DEFINITION THAT FITS ALL INSTANCES. THAT IS, HE DID NOT LIKE A CASE. THAT SAID. MIKE: IN RECENT MONTHS, SHE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH HEALTH ISSUES, BUT SHE PROMISED TO CONTINUE TO EXPRESS HER POINT OF VIEW ON THE BENCH AND OFF OF IT, IF NECESSARY. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. I'M MIKE GOUSHA. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, ON "UPFRONT
The first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has died at age 87.Former Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson died Saturday of cancer. "Kathy and I were devastated this morning to learn of Chief Justice Abrahamson's passing," Gov. Tony Evers said. "Chief Justice Abrahamson was a first—the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the first woman to serve as chief justice. Yet, her legacy is defined not just by being a first, but her life's work of ensuring she would not be the last, paving and lighting the way for the many women and others who would come after her."Abrahamson served on the court for 43 years, the longest tenure of any justice.For 19 of those years, she served as Chief Justice.Abrahamson was first elected in 1976.She decided for health reasons not to seek re-election at the end of her term in 2019.Abrahamson wrote more than 1,300 opinions."Abrahamson was a meticulous jurist and a profound writer who believed in an independent judiciary," Evers said. "But she was also a champion for a more fair, more equitable state and country, and to that end, worked to hold our laws to account."Before joining the Supreme Court, Abrahamson was in private practice in Madison for 14 years and was a professor at the UW Law School. She was born in New York City and was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by former Gov. Patrick Lucey."She has had a larger-than-life impact on the legal profession in Wisconsin and our state's and country's jurisprudence," Evers said. "She was a pillar of our state and the court for generations. We have missed her greatly on the court, and we will miss her greatly in this life. We are thinking of Chief Justice Abrahamson's family and friends, and we join the people of Wisconsin in mourning the loss of one of our state's most extraordinary public servants and honoring her legacy."Abrahamson's husband passed away in 2016."When I joined the court, I was given a voice -- a voice that I have not hesitated to use," Abrahamson said in a May 2018 statement announcing her decision not to seek re-election. "The best expression of appreciation I can give the people who have elected and repeatedly reelected me is to continue to speak with the clarity, forthrightness and compassion that come from a life I have tried to devote to service and to justice for all."She is survived by her son."Shirley Abrahamson has served Wisconsin with independence, fairness and hard work," Sen. Tammy Baldwin tweeted in June 2019. "She has long been an inspiration to me and so many in Wisconsin and across the country. Thank you, Justice Abrahamson for all you have done for Wisconsin."In 1993, then-President Bill Clinton considered putting her on the U.S. Supreme Court, and she was later profiled in the book, "Great American Judges: An Encyclopedia.""Jessica and I and our whole family have lost a dear lifetime friend," former Gov. Jim Doyle said. "My father hired her at a time when law firms weren't hiring women; she became the firm's first woman attorney. Nationally regarded as one of the country's greatest judges, she was widely recognized for her great intelligence, sharp writing, and keen sense of justice. She was a champion of civil rights and civil liberties, and worked to advance principles of equality, transparency, and openness. She demystified the court and brought it directly to the people of Wisconsin, holding hearings around the state and inviting students into the courtroom to learn. She was a mentor for generations of lawyers — including me — but in particular, for women. You wouldn't find a woman in Wisconsin who became a lawyer from 1970 on who wouldn't say Shirley Abrahamson wasn't part of their inspiration. And in addition, she was just a warm, loyal, extremely funny, and caring friend. We will miss her." "I am deeply saddened by the passing of former Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson," Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas said. "Justice Abrahamson was a leader and trailblazer. As the child of immigrants, she grew up believing in the power of pursuing any dream she set her mind to and going out and achieving it. Justice Abrahamson finished first in her graduating law school class, at a school in which she was often the only woman. She was the first woman hired at the law firm she joined out of law school."Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
MADISON, Wis. —
The first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has died at age 87.
Former Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson died Saturday of cancer.
"Kathy and I were devastated this morning to learn of Chief Justice Abrahamson's passing," Gov. Tony Evers said. "Chief Justice Abrahamson was a first—the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the first woman to serve as chief justice. Yet, her legacy is defined not just by being a first, but her life's work of ensuring she would not be the last, paving and lighting the way for the many women and others who would come after her."
Abrahamson served on the court for 43 years, the longest tenure of any justice.
For 19 of those years, she served as Chief Justice.
Abrahamson was first elected in 1976.
She decided for health reasons not to seek re-election at the end of her term in 2019.
Abrahamson wrote more than 1,300 opinions.
"Abrahamson was a meticulous jurist and a profound writer who believed in an independent judiciary," Evers said. "But she was also a champion for a more fair, more equitable state and country, and to that end, worked to hold our laws to account."
Before joining the Supreme Court, Abrahamson was in private practice in Madison for 14 years and was a professor at the UW Law School.
She was born in New York City and was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by former Gov. Patrick Lucey.
"She has had a larger-than-life impact on the legal profession in Wisconsin and our state's and country's jurisprudence," Evers said. "She was a pillar of our state and the court for generations. We have missed her greatly on the court, and we will miss her greatly in this life. We are thinking of Chief Justice Abrahamson's family and friends, and we join the people of Wisconsin in mourning the loss of one of our state's most extraordinary public servants and honoring her legacy."
Abrahamson's husband passed away in 2016.
"When I joined the court, I was given a voice -- a voice that I have not hesitated to use," Abrahamson said in a May 2018 statement announcing her decision not to seek re-election. "The best expression of appreciation I can give the people who have elected and repeatedly reelected me is to continue to speak with the clarity, forthrightness and compassion that come from a life I have tried to devote to service and to justice for all."
She is survived by her son.
"Shirley Abrahamson has served Wisconsin with independence, fairness and hard work," Sen. Tammy Baldwin tweeted in June 2019. "She has long been an inspiration to me and so many in Wisconsin and across the country. Thank you, Justice Abrahamson for all you have done for Wisconsin."
In 1993, then-President Bill Clinton considered putting her on the U.S. Supreme Court, and she was later profiled in the book, "Great American Judges: An Encyclopedia."
"Jessica and I and our whole family have lost a dear lifetime friend," former Gov. Jim Doyle said. "My father hired her at a time when law firms weren't hiring women; she became the firm's first woman attorney. Nationally regarded as one of the country's greatest judges, she was widely recognized for her great intelligence, sharp writing, and keen sense of justice. She was a champion of civil rights and civil liberties, and worked to advance principles of equality, transparency, and openness. She demystified the court and brought it directly to the people of Wisconsin, holding hearings around the state and inviting students into the courtroom to learn. She was a mentor for generations of lawyers — including me — but in particular, for women. You wouldn't find a woman in Wisconsin who became a lawyer from 1970 on who wouldn't say Shirley Abrahamson wasn't part of their inspiration. And in addition, she was just a warm, loyal, extremely funny, and caring friend. We will miss her."
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of former Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson," Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas said. "Justice Abrahamson was a leader and trailblazer. As the child of immigrants, she grew up believing in the power of pursuing any dream she set her mind to and going out and achieving it. Justice Abrahamson finished first in her graduating law school class, at a school in which she was often the only woman. She was the first woman hired at the law firm she joined out of law school."
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson won't seek re-election