Jane Bolin, First African American Woman Judge

Jane Matilda Bolin was born in 1908 in Poughkeepsie, New York. Her father owned his own legal practice so Jane grew up steeped in conversation and books on law. Despite warnings from her dad, she knew at a young age that this was her calling as well. “It is easy to imagine how a young, protected child who sees portrayals of brutality is forever scarred and becomes determined to contribute in her own small way to social justice,” she wrote in a letter in 1978. In daily life and especially at university, Bolin dealt with racism. She had been one of only three women in her class at Yale Law School, and was the first person of color to graduate from the university.  

  Yet, in 1939, Jane Bolin was first black woman in the United States to become a judge. At her swearing in, Bolin said she hoped to portray “a broad sympathy for human suffering.” She went on to serve in New York’s Family Court for 40 years, advocating for the rights and education of children. When she saw cases that included children she chose not to wear her judicial robe in order to make them feel more comfortable. Bolin is known for many court cases, including ending skin color-based assignments for probation officers. She reluctantly retired in 1979 and passed away in 2007 at the age of 98.  

Jane Bolin (Tap to play audio) 📍Animation by @davidandcorrin “We have to fight every inch of the way and in the face of sometimes insufferable humiliations.” – Jane Bolin In 1931, Jane Bolin graduated from Yale Law School as the first African American female to earn a law degree from the institution. Eight years later, in July of 1939, she would make world news being sworn in as the first African American female judge of the United States of America. For 40 years, she served on New York’s Family Court, advocating for children and families and fighting for the rights and education of children.

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