The Honorable Caroline Glassman, the first woman to serve as a Justice on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, passed away this week at the age of 90. All of the Maine papers have published thoughtful obituaries: a few can be read here and here and here. The slide show that accompanies the Portland Press Herald's story is particularly moving. Justice Glassman was an inspiration to many of us--thoughtful, hard-working, and energetic. A number of years ago the Maine Law Review published a special symposium edition on law and feminism. Justice Glassman's contribution, "Then and Now: A Perspective," shared her recollections of law school in the 1940s:
Approximately one week after classes began, I was called into the Dean's office. He gently explained to me that not only was I several years younger than the other members of the first year class but because experience had established that very few women had completed the three years, and if they did they thereafter did nothing in the profession, it was the school's opinion I would be far happier were I to enroll in some other graduate studies that would keep me interested until such time as I would marry. He recommended that I give this serious thought before I expended any further time at the law school and that, should I wisely decide to withdraw, the school would happily refund my tuition.
And also
Only required courses were offered. There were no electives, and classes were held from 7:30 to 11:30 each morning. The faculty was entirely male. On entering a classroom, the professor addressed the assembled students by saying, “Good morning, Gentlemen.” When the subject of sex crimes was reached in the criminal law class, the professor privately suggested to me that I could be excused from attending.
I feel very fortunate that I was able to meet her, and all of us at the ACLU of Maine extend our condolences to her family and friends. Her memory will be a blessing.
