In honor of Women's History Month, exhibits honoring the legacy of former Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson are on display in the Capitol building rotunda and Supreme Court vestibule. The Justice for All: The Legacy of Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson exhibit aims to encourage public service and educate the public about the first woman justice in Wisconsin.
The exhibit, developed by the Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson Legacy Committee, presents her groundbreaking career, impact on the Wisconsin court system, and place in history. Through archival photos, video clips, stories, and quotations, it highlights causes she championed—women's rights, civil rights, public understanding of the court system, and the importance of an independent judiciary.
The exhibit includes an interactive learning tool called Tootsie the Goldfish, based on Abrahamson's tutorial, to help people understand how judges decide cases. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley said nothing was more important to Abrahamson than public confidence in the law and courts.
"Shirley Abrahamson worked tirelessly in her effort to enhance the public understanding of the court system. In her effort to bring the court to the people, she traveled the state meeting with groups, large and small, to discuss the role of the courts and the importance of an independent judiciary," shared Justice Bradley. "Her legacy lies not just in her many opinions, awards and accolades, but also in the indelible impression that she left in the hearts and minds of so many who look to her with admiration and gratitude."
The exhibit also allows visitors to delve into Abrahamson's life, starting from her birth to Polish-Jewish immigrants. It showcases her career on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, highlighting her most significant legal opinions, the timeline of her achievements and milestones, and her memorable quotes. The exhibit also sheds light on the trail she blazed for women lawyers and judges. Justice Janine P. Geske, who co-chairs the committee with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), said there are successful attorneys across Wisconsin who considered Abrahamson as a mentor.
"Particularly during this month, where we hold up predominant women who had a huge impact, it's fitting to have this exhibit in the capitol," said Geske. "As the first female on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the first female Chief Justice, she deserves this recognition; no one had a bigger impact on Wisconsin's judicial history. For those of us who joined the courts when there weren't many women, she was a beacon and mentor – and helped promote and lift up women."
The exhibit is open to the public during regular Capitol building hours.
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