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MWL's 35 Year History
1972
 | Irene Scott is named first President of Minnesota Women Lawyers |
| First Project: to advocate for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment by the Minnesota State Legislature.
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1973-74
| The Honorable Patricia Belois is elected the first president of MWL |
| Project: to identify all of the women enrolled in law school or licensed to practice in Minnesota. MWL identified about 120 women in law, including 50 law students. More than half joined MWL in the first few years.
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1977-78
| Rosalie Wahl appointed to Supreme Court (first woman on Supreme Court) |
| Esther Tomljanovich appointed to 10th District Court (2nd women district court judge) |
| MWL newsletter began. |
1978-79
| MWL holds press conference to publicly urge the appointment of a woman to the US District Court for Minnesota, and to recommend four candidates: Diana Murphy, Roberta Levy, Delores Orey and Suzanne Sedgwick. |
| MWL incorporates as a non-profit organization. |
1981-82
| MWL Task Force on the Status of Women in the Legal Profession announced |
| Judicial Appointments Committee endorses seven candidates for 4th Judicial District court vacancies: Diana Eagon, Ann Alton, Catherine Anderson, Doris Huspeni, Roberta Levy, Deborah Hedlund, and Cara Lee Neville; Lynn Olson was endorsed for the 10th Judicial District.
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1982-83
| MWL moves it's operations to an office and hires part-time Executive Director Vivian M. Baumann.
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1983-84
| MWL Task Force on the Status of Women in the Legal Profession Report published: this was the first state-wide effort of its kind, and brought national attention to MWL. |
| Myra Bradwell Award established; Susanne Sedgwick is the first recipient. |
| MWL had more than 700 members and a 24-member Board of Directors.
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1984-85
| Appointments committee endorses five women for judicial positions: Ann Montgomery, LaJune Lange, Patricia Belois, Beryl Nord, and Pamela Alexander. |
| Attoreney Referral Service begins. |
1987-88
| MWL Executive Director changes from a part-time to a full-time position.
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1988-89
| Mentor Program established for law students |
1989-90
| Career Paths of Minnesota Law School Graduates report published |
| MWL holds first Holiday Benefit for battered women's shelters.
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1990-91
| Professional Parents Committee develops Model policies for parental leave and flex-time |
| Esther Tomljanovich and Sandra Gardebring appointed to Supreme Court; Minnesota becomes the first state with a majority of women on the Supreme Court. |
| Equal Justice Award established. |
1991-92
| Leadership Award established. General Mills law department is named the first recipient.
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1994-95
| MWL hosts retirement dinner and celebration for Justice Rosalie Wahl; nearly 800 attend |
| Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture Fund established at the Minneapolis Foundation with the proceeds of the Retirement dinner
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1995-96
| Janet Reno speaks at Annual Meeting, with a record 1,000 people in attendance. |
| MWL sponsors sold-out Take Our Daughters to Work Day program at Hennepin County Government Center.
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1996-97
| Roe v Wade attorney Sarah Weddington presents first Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture
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1997-98
| Election Endorsement Task Force formed and decision made to endorse candidates in contested judicial and attorney general elections statewide
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1998-99
| MWL moves into new offices at City Center |
| Central Minnesota and South Central Chapters of MWL were formed |
| Attorney to Attorney Mentor Program began. |
1999-00
| Professional Parents Committee publishes Life Balance Resource Guide.
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2000-2001
| MWL hosts first Diversity Event, featuring Karen Clanton, editor of “Dear Sisters, Dear Daughters.”
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2001-2002
| MWL redesigns newsletter into a quarterly publication “With Equal Right.” “The MWL Exchange” is also created as a quarterly calendar of events notice. |
| Website is redesigned. |
2002-03
| The Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture is
presented by Nadine Strossen, President of the ACLU
White House Correspondent Helen Thomas speaks at MWL’s 31st Annual Meeting |
2003-04
| Diane Yu, Chair of the ABA Commission on Women
in the Profession, presents the Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture
MWL hosts a successful Midwest Regional Conference for Women in the Law with
over 300 attendees from across the region. |
2004-05
| MWL develops its 2004-2009 Strategic Plan
PBS political reporter and commentator Gwen Ifel speaks at MWL’s 33rd Annual
Meeting |
2005-06
2006-07
| MWL continues with a second year of the “I am
MWL” Campaign
Marie Wilson, founder and president of The White House Project, presents the
“Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture”
The Public Policy Advocacy Taskforce is formed and makes recommendations to
the MWL Board
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