Geraldine Macelwane (1909–1974) was the first woman judge on the Lucas County Common Pleas Court in Ohio. [1]
Geraldine F. Connell was born in 1909 in Detroit, Michigan to Jeremiah and Mary Connell. The family moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1924. [2] [3] She graduated from high school in 1926 and became a statistical clerk for the Wambash Railroad until she lost the position during the Great Depression. [2] [4] She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1932 before receiving her degree from the University of Toledo. [2] In 1938, she married architect John P. Macelwane, with whom she had two daughters. [4]
In 1937, Macelwane became a prosecutor for Lucas County, specializing in child neglect cases. She was elected to the Toledo Municipal Court as the first woman judge in 1952. [2] In 1956, she was appointed to the Lucas County Common Pleas Court by Governor Frank Lausche, a position she held until her death in 1974. [2] [5] By 1958, she had an all-woman court staff; her clerks included Marigene Valiquette and Mary Ann Fackelman. [6] [7] As a judge, she developed the individual docket system and jury instructions. [1]
Macelwane died of a heart attack on December 9, 1974. [8] She was posthumously inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1993. [9]
Geraldine Macelwane (1909–1974) was the first woman judge on the Lucas County Common Pleas Court in Ohio. [1]
Geraldine F. Connell was born in 1909 in Detroit, Michigan to Jeremiah and Mary Connell. The family moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1924. [2] [3] She graduated from high school in 1926 and became a statistical clerk for the Wambash Railroad until she lost the position during the Great Depression. [2] [4] She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1932 before receiving her degree from the University of Toledo. [2] In 1938, she married architect John P. Macelwane, with whom she had two daughters. [4]
In 1937, Macelwane became a prosecutor for Lucas County, specializing in child neglect cases. She was elected to the Toledo Municipal Court as the first woman judge in 1952. [2] In 1956, she was appointed to the Lucas County Common Pleas Court by Governor Frank Lausche, a position she held until her death in 1974. [2] [5] By 1958, she had an all-woman court staff; her clerks included Marigene Valiquette and Mary Ann Fackelman. [6] [7] As a judge, she developed the individual docket system and jury instructions. [1]
Macelwane died of a heart attack on December 9, 1974. [8] She was posthumously inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1993. [9]