Law and Order: 7 Black Female Lawyers and Judges Who Shaped the Legal Landscape
- By
Terri Williams
Jewel Lafontant
In 1936, Jewel Lafontant became the first black woman to earn a law degree from the University of Chicago, and enjoyed an illustrious legal and political career. Under President Dwight Eisenhower, she became the first black woman to service as Assistant U.S. Attorney. During President Nixon’s administration, Lafontant was the first black female Deputy Solicitor General in the Justice Department, where she presented cases before the Supreme Court. In President George H.W. Bush’s administration, Lafontant worked in the State Department as both ambassador at large and coordinator for refugee affairs. She died in 1997 at the age of 75.
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