Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-02-20
Women as Lawyers.

hibited from practlcing the profes
sion Of law before the Supreme Conr
of the United States. Every prin
has something to say on the subject
In Wisconsin, year ago. the bold
est woman lawyer of the country
vas denied the privilege of practc
ing in the State Supreme Court
While We look upon mans genius al
running BY Iurid lights on the won.
an question We do not object tc
gratifying the popular taste with
such articles as. the following from
Lippincott's Magazine
The fitness and success of women
as doctors have been so positive as
to fully answer the question of their
need in the profession of medicine,
and the topic which few years ago
was 80 full of interest both acientific-
ally and socially has ceased to be a
matter of special discussion in the
light OF abundant practical expert
ence. Of just what scientific value
the introduction of woman into the
study and practice of medicine has
been, or will be, to the profession
will in due time form subject of
computation TO some writer of the
future anslytically minded. But
in the study and practice Of the law
the woman element is comparatively
new. So little has been accomplish
ed in this respect by woman in tho
East as scarcely to be discerned, but
in the West, where the grooves of
custom are less strongly defined, and
where both men and women have q
better chance for the development of
the faith that is within them, enough
has been accomplished to merit the
name of respectable beginning.
Perhaps the most successful wom-
an in law--certainly the one whose
name has become most prominent
before the public as lawyers
Lavinia GoodelI of GAINESVILLE, Wis.,
consin !; and slight account at this
time of her legal career may not fail
TO be of interest. Some years ago,
when / first knew Mics Goodell. she
was employed in literary way 10
the office of Harper's Basar- q
shrewd, quiok-witted girl, fond OF
humor, studious and argumentative.
La person she was of m edium height
but looking tall from her slender,
erect figure, blue eyed, and with
light-brown curling hair. She soon
after resigned her position in New
York, and went West at the request
Of her parents, who had become aged
and wanted her with them. Lavinia
had long had taste for legal read
ing, and displayed decided talent for
transacting business, and 10 her early
girlish years secretly thought that
she would like to be q lawyer. But
at that time such career seemed
impossible for her, and she gave up
the idea almost as soon as it had
taken shape to do the duty tina. lay
nearest to her.
After joining her parents (she was
born in New England, l think, and
her father was intimately associa-
ted with Garrison in the Abolition
movement) she was undecided what
she should do, only, to use her own
words, 81 was quite clear that l
would not spend my time washing
dishes and making over my ola
dresses" Then arose the old long,
ing to study law. She had the leIs-
ure for it, and her father encouraged
her in it. A lawyer in the town was
willing to help her. and so she be.
gan to study, without seeing her
way clear to the practice of law.
She continued her reading, becoming
more and more absorbed in it. At
the end of three years of study she
decided to apply for admission to the
circuit, was examined, passed q bril-.
liant examination and was admitted.
Following this were numerous com.
pliments from members of the bar.
newspaper puffs, and applause all
around. She then opened an office
and proceeded in perfectly business
ike way to practice her profession.
Her first case was prosecution of
liquor-dealers for illegal selling in an
adjoining county. The district at
torney, being a "llquor-man," was
not considered trustworthy by the
temperance women who were the
real prosecutors in the case, and
they employed Miss GoodeIl, who
won her suit, first IN the JUSTICES
court, and. the defendants appealing,
the second time in the circuit court.
This success gained her considerable
reputation and gave her a good
start. Then she had some criminal
defences and collections resulting in
suits 10 which she had fair success.
Bat q case which extended her rep
utaiion throughout the State and
country was one involving twelve
hundred dollars, in wbloh her client
was woman. The case was carried
from the county court to the circuit
court, and appealed from that to the
supreme court, where she won. Ac.
cording to the law of Wisconsin, Miss
Goodell's admission to the circuit
court at the outset of her legal career
admitted her to all the courts 10 the
State but tho supreme court. Upon
carrying up her Case and applying
for admission to this. the chief Justice
(Ryan) refused her on the ground of
sex. The arguments appeared in
substance in volume xxxIx(I thinkl
of Wisconsin Reports re GoodeU-
to be found under the head Of "At-
torneys," This refusal to admit
Miss Goodell to practice In the su.
preme court created much sensation
and was commented on by various
| newspapers in the country-mostly
in the lady's favor. She afterward
reviewed the chief Justices opinion
on her case in the Legal NeUs (Chi-
cago). and unquestionably had the
better of him in the argument, She
also prepared bill and sent it to
the State Legislature. providing that
no person should be refused admis.
sion to the bar on account of sex
A petition asking for it's passage was
signed by the circuit Judge and
every member Of the bar in the