, 1898-11-18

d -IAtHlll No MAUI ny JuuSt
Bramel.
In the district court of the Second ju-
dicial district this afternoon, Miss Grace
Raymond Hebard. secretary of the
board of trustees of the University of
Wyoming. was formally admitted to
the practice Of law in the district courts
of the state. This Is said to be the first
time in the history of the common
wealth where a woman has been admit
ted to the bar, and the event has at
tracted a great deal of attention. Miss
Hebard is receiving the congratulations
of her numerous friends this afternoon
on the success of her undertaking in
so thoroughly preparing herself for the
high profession.
The examining committee, consist
ing of Colonel S. w. Downey. C. f. Car
penter and c. P. Arnold, made a favor
able report on Miss Hebard's applica-
ton. and Judge Bramel. in granting the
certificate. spoke as follows:
Miss Hebard, it affords the court
qualification indeed, to see such a IA
vorable report here of the progress you
have made in the study Of law.
More than that. it affords the court
greater qualification in being permit
ted. for the first time in the history Of
the state. to have such a favorable re-
port On the application of one of its
own woman citizens to become a men,
Der of so great and honorable a profess
sion as that of the law.
When the motion was made by Col
onel Downey the other day for the ap-
pointment Of a committee on your ex-
animation to be admitted to the practice
Of law in this court, l had some doubt
as to whether or moi, under our law,
women are permitted to practice law in
this state. There was no doubt in my
mind that the constitution was all right
on the proposition, but the legislature
mas hCNCl Nhdtlcu d ld" upou WHICH
the constitutional privilege could be
enforced. But in a more thorough ex-
animation of the statute enacted before
we became a state. Section 1870, Revised
Statutes OF Wyoming, l find that any
person. being a citizen Of the United
States, who has read law for two years,
the last Of which must be in the Office
Of the judge. or Of a regularly practic-
ing attorney. with the proper certificate
accompanying that fact-that any per
son." whoever it may be. may make this
application. But further along in the
same section. I find this-after the GER
tificate has been fled-that II the dis
trict court. or the judge thereof, is sat
isfied that the person making the appli-
cation is possessed of the requisite
learning, "and that he (using the Ian
guage of the statute) is Of good moral
character, may by such court be permit
ted to practice in all the district courts.
This statute does not use the term "he
or She" simply combining it to the male
gender, but the Interpretation of that
statute is. that any person making the
application possessing the necessary
qualifications, that "he." necessarily re-
ferring to person." may be a female
as we'll as a male. and thatntherefore
previous legislation on this question of
the admission Of women to practice law
in this state is sufficient in character
for the purpose: and since the adoption
Of the constitution, it is doubly Sc
cured.
so am fully persuaded that l do no
violence in this Interpretation Of that
law, permitting women t o practice that
profession in this state.
Il presume it has occurred to you,
Miss Hebard, in your study of the law,
that equity makes no distinction as to
sex. | have for a long time believed
that woman's sphere is coordinate with
that of man: that there should be no
taxation without representations; that
there are and have been a host Of wo-
men throughout these United States
who have been debarred, actually, from
representation. though they were tax
ed. But l believe that woman's suffrage
and woman's rights ought to be extend
ed to every woman. I believe women
ought to have equal privileges with men
in every branch of study and the pro-
fessions. and l believe the day is not
far distant when that will be accorded
to her. Evidently, noble work has been
done in u WI state, and Wyoming
is looked to by other states, and by peo-
pie who think just as the judges Of the
courts of this state. as a state purer in
politics. purer in social life, than per-
haps any other state in the nation that
is possessed Of no greater population.
And | believe. Miss Hebard. that you
may well congratulate yourself on the
progress o have made. and to have
that distinction, SO marked and promi-
nent, of being among the first. in fact
the first 70 my knowledge, of women in
this state to ask the grand privilege Of