MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Honoring Wisconsin’s first woman lawyer.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court announced Wednesday that the State Law Library will be named in honor of Lavinia Goodell, the first woman lawyer in Wisconsin.
Goodell was born in New York state and moved to Wisconsin in 1871. Three years later she was admitted to the practice of law by the Rock County Circuit Court.
In 1875 she was denied the right to represent a client before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Goodell drafted legislation to guarantee women the ability to practice law in Wisconsin. The bill was signed into law in 1877.