Clara Shortridge Foltz
Personal Information
Born: 1849
Died: 1934
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
nothing formal-studied law at her father s law practice
Professional Life
Field of Study: Lawyer
Institution/Corporation: none
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: Hastings College of Law (1991)
Awards & Achievements
Awards: none
Achievements: 1st female admitted to the California Bar (1878); 1st female attorney on the West Coast; pioneer in the Public Defender movement; 2002, Criminal Court building in Los Angeles named after her; authored the Woman Lawyer Bill; sued the President of Hastings College of Law in Foltz v. Hoge, won giving women the right to be admitted to law schools in California; 1st female to pass the California State Supreme Court Bar exam; leader in the women s voting rights movement; at 1893 Chicago World s Fair made her 1st public presentation for a Public Defender s office; 1st female clerk for the State Assembly s Judiciary Committee;1st woman appointed to the State Board of Corrections; 1891, 1st female licensed Notary Public; 1905, 1st female director of a major bank; 1930, 1st woman to run for Governor of California; 1910, 1st female appointed to the Los Ageles District Attorney s office making her the 1st female deputy district attorney in the US; authored the Women s Vote Amendment for California 1911; founded & published the San Diego Daily Bee & New American Women Magazine; 1881, 1st female to prosecute a murder case; 1887, 1st female to hold a statewide office (State Normal School Board); Foltz Defender Bill adopted 1921 in California making Public Defenders available in the entire State; 1879, 1st female attorney to argue in front of the California Supreme Court
1st female admitted to the California Bar
1st female lawyer on the entire west coast of the US
Authored a State bill in California known as the "Woman Lawyer Bill" which replaced "white male" with "citizen person"
Pioneered the idea of the Public Defender
Criminal courts Building in downtown LA was renamed the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in 2002
Eloped at age 15 (1864)
During her 57-year law career, pushed for several progressive legislations for women's rights in voting & the legal field
In California was the 1st female clerk in the California State Assembly Judiciary Committee, 1st female appointed to the Board of Corrections, 1st female licensed Notary Public, 1st female named the director of a major bank, 1st female to run for Governor of California (at age 81).
1910, 1st female Deputy DA in the US
Raised 5 children as a single parent after her husband abandoned the family in 1876
Founded the San diego Daily Bee & the New American Women Magazine
1881, 1st female to prosecute a murder case