Florence Ellinwood Allen American judge Date of Birth: 23.03.1884 Country: USA

Biography of Florence Ellinwood Allen

Florence Ellinwood Allen was an American judge who became the first woman in the Supreme Court and one of only two women to hold a federal judge position. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Clarence Emir Allen, Sr., a miner turned member of the House of Representatives, and his wife Corinne Marie. The family later moved to Cleveland, where Florence spent her formative years. From her father, Allen inherited a love for foreign languages, and as a teenager, she was already proficient in Greek and Latin.

Florence also had a passion for poetry and music, so much so that she decided to pursue a career in music at university. Unfortunately, a traumatic injury prevented her from becoming a pianist. She then worked as a music critic before developing an interest in law and politics. In 1908, Florence received a master's degree in political science. However, her alma mater, Western Reserve University, did not accept female students at the time, so she had to take special courses and transfer to the University of New York to study law.

In 1914, she passed the bar exam in Ohio and started her legal practice. Although Allen initially struggled financially, she gained experience by working on pro bono projects, particularly focusing on gender equality issues. She was an active member of the suffragette movement, striving to change local laws according to the party's principles. Florence also advocated for peace, as both her brothers died during World War I.

In 1920, Allen became a judge and handled almost 900 cases during her first term. One of the most challenging cases was that of gangster Frank Motto, where concerns arose that a female judge and female jury might deliver an overly lenient sentence due to emotional factors. However, Allen proved those concerns wrong by sentencing Motto to the electric chair for robbery and double murder.

In 1922, Florence was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court, and she was re-elected in 1928. Her integrity and impartiality were highly regarded, and the public appreciated her willingness to make tough decisions, including issuing death sentences.

In March 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Allen to the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Although many consider Florence to be the first woman to reach the level of a federal judge, that distinction actually belongs to Genevieve R. Cline in 1928. Unfortunately, Florence was unsuccessful in her attempts to be appointed to the Supreme Court in 1939 and subsequent efforts. However, she remained active in the fight for women's rights and peace, which consumed much of her time.

In 1959, after her career had stagnated since 1958, Allen retired but retained the title of Senior Judge of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the option to return if necessary. She continued to be involved in public activities and worked on her autobiography, which was published in 1965. In the mid-1960s, Allen faced serious health problems after breaking her hip. Florence Ellinwood Allen passed away on September 13, 1966, in Mentor, Ohio, at the age of 82.