Shirley Abrahamson

Today marks the 150th anniversary of Lavinia Goodell’s admission to the Rock County Circuit Court, whereupon she became the first woman lawyer in Wisconsin!

Excitement is building! As you know, June 17, 2024, marks the 150th anniversary of Lavinia Goodell’s admission to the Rock County Circuit Court, making her Wisconsin’s first woman lawyer. On that day, we are celebrating with a reenactment of Lavinia’s efforts to gain admission to the bar at the very courthouse where she made history. In anticipation of the event, the Janesville Gazette has just published a terrific article about Lavinia and her fight for women lawyers. Enjoy and many thanks to the Janesville Gazette! https://www.gazettextra.com/news/local/150-years-of-women-in-law-janesville-event-to-commemorate-lavinia-goodells-admission-to-wisconsin/article_2041e4d8-2386-11ef-88c4-eb840845bf28.html Wisconsin Historical SocietyOld World Wisconsin State Bar of Wisconsin

Matt Woleske clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 2015-16. One of his anecdotes beautifully summarizes the Chief's legacy:

"One particularly long night, probably on draft 37 or so of an opinion, I remember looking up from my desk at her and saying, pitifully, “Chief, why are we doing this?” I’ve never forgotten her response: “Because I care.“

Read the rest of Matt's story here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/matt-woleske/

Sue Fieber was Chief Justice Abrahamson's judicial assistant from 1992-1999. Over the course of those years, she saw numerous interns from the UW Law School come and go. One intern in particular stuck out in her memory. Head to the blog to find out why: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/sue-fieber/

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Douglas Endreson clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1980-81. Once, she asked him to fill in and give a talk to elementary students who were visiting the Capitol.

He says, "Went to meet them, offered Justice Abrahamson’s regrets and said I was filling in, and then looked up at a room full of sad and disappointed faces. A reminder that Justice Abrahamson’s tireless devotion to serving all people in the State was appreciated by everyone."

Read more of his stories here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/douglas-endreson/ and be sure to like & follow for more stories!

Megan Sanders clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 2014-15, when the state constitution was amended to change how the position of chief justice was assigned.

Megan says, "The day after the election, there was a vote, and the Chief was no longer the Chief. She did not show even a hint of sadness or frustration in response to this unprecedented event. Instead she filed a lawsuit and said to whoever called her cell, “They gave me lemons and I’m making lemonade.” Her reaction that day was a good summation of her personality — she absolutely never shied away from a fight, but she absolutely never lost her cool."

Read more of Megan's story here:
https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/megan-sanders/

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Eli Best clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 2011-2012. He says, "She was a generous mentor and maintained incredibly good humor despite the intense demands and challenges of the job."

Read more here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/eli-best/

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Matthew Splitek clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 2007-08 and again from 2008-09. He says, "Those were some of the most challenging, satisfying, and often fun days I’ve had in this profession. I always felt like each Sunday was worth a year of law school."

Read more of Matthew's memories here:
https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/matthew-splitek/

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Noah Rosenthal clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 2005-2006. He says, "The Chief was a remarkable person in so many ways. There is no experience in the world that would have given me the Chief’s work ethic, keen mind and strong sense of justice. But I think I was a little better in all those areas for having worked for her, and for this I am eternally grateful to her."

Read more of Noah's stories, including one about The Chief's love of instant coffee here:
https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/noah-rosenthal/

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Noah Rosenthal (2005-06) - Shirley S. Abrahamson The Chief was a remarkable person in so many ways. There is no experience in the world that would have given me the Chief’s work ethic, keen mind and strong sense of justice. But I think I was a little better in all those areas for having worked for her, and for this I am eternally grateful to her...

Neil Byl clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 2003-2004. He says, "Many people know her for her unparalleled work ethic, keen intellect, and commitment to public service. All true. But what stands out most to me is her kind, generous spirit. She was an amazing judge and mentor, but an even better friend. Thank you, Chief."

Read more of Neil's story here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/neil-byl/ and be sure to like & follow for more stories!

Gabe Plotkin clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 2002-2003. Gabe says, "I consider her the reason I am such a clear thinker, strong writer, and hard worker."

You can read more memories and about some "Chief-isms" here:
https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/gabe-plotkin/

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The traveling exhibit is now also on display in the Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda! Don't miss your chance to go see it!

March 8, , is also the 147th anniversary of the passage of the law, drafted by Lavinia Goodell, that officially allowed women to practice law in the state of Wisconsin!

March 8 is Women's History Day. It is also the anniversary of the day in 1877 that Wisconsin's governor signed into law legislation drafted by Lavinia Goodell allowing women to practice law in the state.
Learn more here.https://www.laviniagoodell.com/little-by-little-but-all-the-time-we-are-gaining-essential-rights/

If you are interested in 19th century history, especially women's history, please like and share our Facebook posts and follow Lavinia's page. All prior posts are available on our website: www.laviniagoodell.com.

On this , we strive to live up to Justice Abrahamson's charge to us: "[W]e must make a special effort to help other outsiders [...] We should try to ensure that in our judicial system, and in all facets of our government, everyone is treated with respect and dignity."

In the words of her former clerk, Megan McDermott, Abrahamson "didn’t just shatter the glass ceiling. She also looked for ways to lift others through the gap." May we go out and do likewise.

For , Shirley Abrahamson has returned to the Supreme Court! The traveling exhibit is now on display in the Court's vestibule. Be sure to visit if you have the chance!

Megan McDermott clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 2000-2001. She says, "Chief Justice Abrahamson was a great mentor to so many who came after her. She didn’t just shatter the glass ceiling. She also looked for ways to lift others through the gap."

Read more of Megan's story here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/megan-mcdermott/

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Arlo Chase clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 1999-2000. Read Arlo's memories of The Chief here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/arlo-chase/

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“I hope this election is not going to be about aerobics. I have been introduced across the state as Shirley ‘The Body’ Abrahamson.”
-Chief Justice Abrahamson in an interview with Cary Segall in the Wisconsin State Journal titled: “Abrahamson Says stick to important issues,” February 20, 1999.

Ruth Burdick clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 1998-999. She says, "The year I clerked for Shirley was an election year. When I came on-board, she said “you’re my election clerk, get on top of things and stay there, I’ll be busy, and then we’ll work hard.”"

Read about what it was like to clerk during an election year, along with more of Ruth's stories here:
https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/ruth-burdick/

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"Before my clerkship, I had a general understanding of access to justice, as a concept and ideal. During my clerkship I learned that access to justice comes in the form of a person. Shirley showed me that access to justice does not reside in the courthouses. Rather it resides in primary schools, in police ride-alongs, in community club meetings. Her vision of access to justice wasn’t limited to opening the courthouse doors to all. Rather it meant that Shirley would bring herself to the people – wherever they are gathered, no matter their age or circumstance."

Joanne Lin clerked for Chief Justice Abrahamson from 1997-1998. You can read more of her stories about working with the Chief here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/joanne-lin/

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in 1982, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the case State v. Holmes.

Litigants have the right to request a substitute judge for their case if they follow certain procedures. Abrahamson held that the doctrine of separation of powers does not demand a strict division of functions among the three branches. Some powers are shared. The substitution of trial judges is an aspect of the judicial system which may be regulated by the legislature, subject to the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s authority to preserve the integrity of the judicial system and the doctrine of separation of powers.

Explore more of Justice Abrahamson's notable on our website: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/opinions/

"I learned more from her in one year – about being a lawyer and about being a decent human being – than I’ve learned from anyone else. I miss her. So does Wisconsin." - Mike Fischer

Mike Fischer clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1995-1996. You can read more of his story here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/mike-fischer/

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Megan Ballard clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1994-1995. She says, "We worked hard, laughed a lot, and argued only briefly. The memory I draw on most was Shirley’s conviction that two heads are always better than one in addressing any problem."

Read more of Megan's story here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/megan-ballard

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Gabrielle Lessard clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1992-1993. She says, "My work requires a lot of writing, and my ability to write well and quickly is recognized and valued in my organization. As others have said, I learned how to write during my clerkship."

Read more here:
https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/gabrielle-lessard/

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“If you can’t say it in writing, you’re not sure what you think the answer is.” - Justice Shirley Abrahamson

David Jacobs clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1991-1992. Read more about what he learned from the job, and some of the major cases he got to work on here:
https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/david-jacobs/

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Lynn Haug clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1988-1989. She says, "I admire Justice Abrahamson’s strength and brilliant mind and absolute dedication to “getting it right” in every opinion and dissent. I learned a lot that year – about how to be a good legal writer and thinker, and about how to prioritize and organize when there is simply not enough time to do everything that needs to be done."

Read more of Lynn's story here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/lynn-haug/

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Shirley Abrahamson died on December 19, 2020.

Let us continue to honor her legacy and strive to live up to her charge to "continue our efforts to bring us closer to equal opportunity for all persons, on the law books and in life."

Shirley Abrahamson was born on December 17, 1933, just after her mother arrived in the United States. Her parents were Jewish immigrants from Poland, and they joked that the timing of Shirley's arrival meant that she could become President.

This photo shows Shirley's parents, Leo Schlanger and Ceil Sauerteig in the grocery store they ran in New York. You can see more photos of Shirley's early life in the Visual Biography found here: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/visual-biography/

Julie Genovese clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1987-88. She writes, "[Justice Abrahamson] called me on a Saturday morning to offer me the job. I was dating a guy in Nashville where I attended law school so was on the fence about a move. I asked if I could have the weekend to think it over. She said, “No, you can have an hour.”"

Find out what happened next: https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/julie-genovese/

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Lori Kornblum, who clerked for Justice Abrahamson from 1982-83 remembers that "[O]ne of the fun things Shirley authorized was playing Dreidel in the back of chambers. I introduced the other justices and clerks to the game. We played for M&M’s and had a great time. Her humanity was always present."

https://www.shirleyabrahamson.org/lori-kornblum/