Women Lawyers’ Association

of Greater St. Louis

 

Judicial Portrait Project

WLA’s Portrait Project was initiated in 2017 as a way to honor our retired female judges.  In 1976, when WLA was formed, there were no female judges on the bench in St. Louis County and City, and thus retirement of female judges is a more recent occurrence.  Because of timing and cost, St. Louis County and City courtrooms featured only the portraits of retired male judges.  The absence of women on the walls of the courthouses had been noticed by female attorneys as well as by the women they represented.  Even something as simple as what images hang on the walls of our courtrooms matters to the people who go there to do business or resolve disputes.  The Judicial Portrait Project was launched to commission portraits of retired women judges from St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis and display them in the courtrooms where they served.  To date, five portraits have been installed and another two will be unveiled in October 2024.  Additionally, the project was the recent recipient of the National Conference of Women's Bar Association's 2024 Outstanding Member Project Award.  

 

  

 

 

Retired judges Joan Burger, Evelyn Baker and Anna Forder (l-r)

gather for their portraits' unveiling in the

City of Saint Louis' Civil Courts Jury Assembly Room

 

  

At the unveilings at the 21st Circuit Court Building, Hon. Barbara Wallace poses with her portrait and

Hon. Susan Block discusses serving on the court as one of the first women judges alongside Hon. Ann Quinn Niederlander.  

 

 

Retired judges Mary K. Hoff and Jean C. Hamilton at the recent unveilings of their portraits

in the 22nd Circuit Court's Ceremonial Court Room.

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The Judicial Portrait Project is the recipient of the 

National Conference of Women's Bar Association's 

2024 Outstanding Member Project Award

WLA Past President Jennifer Crompton presented the project

to gathered members of the NCWBA

at their annual conference in Chicago.