TEXAS SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Those who did practice law experienced discrimination in some local bar associations that did not welcomethem. Those groups held meetings in private clubs that did not allow women, announced meetings that were“stag,” meaning that only men were welcome, or sent a direct message that a woman attending an event wouldbe “bodily evicted.”The struggles and progress of African-American women practicing law appear in the chapter, “JumpingHurdles.” A black woman did not graduate from a Texas law school until 1954. Barbara Jordan joined the barin 1959, making her the fourth African-American woman licensed in Texas. Jordan studied law even though herfather told her that “lawyering is no profession for a girl to be in.” Jordan went on to achieve much, including herelection in 1966 as the state’s first black senator since the 1800s.Chapman describes the landmark 1925 Texas Supreme Court case in which an all-female panel presided.Sixty years passed before the next woman, Ruby Sondock, sat on the Texas Supreme Court. Barbara Culver, RoseSpector, Priscilla Owen, Deborah Hankinson, and Harriet O’Neill followed. Since the State Bar published thisbook in 2008, Justices Eva Guzman and Debra Lehrmann have also joined the court.The challenges faced by women practicing in established firms are also addressed. Chapman includespersonal accounts from lawyers such as Andrea Bryant, Carol Dinkins, Doris Rodriguez, Kay Grimes, CarleenRhodes Lewis, Barbara Quackenbush, and Beverly Tarpley. It describes women’s advancement in firm leadershipthrough examples such as Harriet Miers, Lisa H. Pennington, Jerry Clements, and Demetris Sampson.Rough Road to Justice: The Journey of Women Lawyers in Texas offers stories of perseverance,determination, self-confidence, and women daring to be great that will inspire Texas women lawyers and givetheir male colleagues an appreciation of their legacy.JUDGE SYLVIA MATTHEWS presides over the 281 st District Court in Harris County. When shecame to the bench in 2008, she had twenty years of trial experience and was a partner in thelitigation section of Andrews Kurth, LLP.Return to Journal Index86