THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Judge Gladys Kessler
January 22, 1938 – March 16, 2023
“We argued in the Court of Appeals all the time and we were doing really wonderful things.”
Lawyer, Founder, public interest law firm, Washington, 1969-1977. Federal judge. Reformed District of Columbia foster care system. National Labor Relations Board, 1962-1964. Legislative assistant, 1964-1966 and 1966-1968. Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 1977-1994. Presiding Judge of the Family Division, 1981-1985. Co-founded Women’s Legal Defense Fund, National Association of Women Judges and Our Place DC. President, National Association of Women Judges, 1983-1984. Executive committee American Bar Association, Conference of Federal Trial Judges and U.S. Judicial Conference’s Committee on Court Administration and Management. Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 1994-2007. Historic ruling in 2006 found tobacco industry violated civil racketeering laws, deceiving public about health hazards of smoking. Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 2007-2023
More About Gladys:
· Statement of Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell on the Death of Retired District Judge Gladys Kessler
· National Partnership For Women & Families Statement on the Passing of Judge Gladys Kessler
· An Interview with Judge Gladys Kessler by Judge Michele D. Hotten, 2013
· Judge orders tobacco companies to admit deception, Reuters