Notre Dame Law School will host a panel discussion, How Women Have Shaped the Judiciary, to commemorate the 19th Amendment centennial of women’s right to vote on Friday, January 24 at 4 p.m. in McCartan Courtroom.  

The panel will include four accomplished female judges: 

• Chief Justice Loretta Rush of the Indiana Supreme Court 
• Judge Elizabeth Tavitas ’85, ’90 J.D. of the Indiana Court of Appeals  
• Judge Amy Coney Barrett ’97 J.D. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• Judge Elizabeth Hurley ’95 J.D. of the Superior Court of St. Joseph County will moderate the discussion. 

The panel will coincide with the traveling exhibit, 100 Years After the 19th Amendment: Their Legacy, and Our Future, that will be on display in the South Reading Room of the Notre Dame Kresge Law Library. 

“The anniversary of women’s right to vote is an incredible milestone. Although 100 years ago, women did not have access to the ballot box, now women serve in the judiciary at historic rates, and over half of our class here at Notre Dame Law is comprised of women. I’m proud to have the opportunity to celebrate this moment and look forward to the progress we can achieve next,” said Rachel Palermo, president of the Notre Dame Women’s Legal Forum.

The 19th Amendment traveling exhibit is sponsored by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress and features historic photos and artifacts and details the story of the battle for ratification and outlines the challenges that remain.  

“We’re thrilled to be bringing the American Bar Association and Library of Congress’ exhibit celebrating 100 years of Women’s Suffrage to campus. The exhibit will give us the opportunity to display the strides women have made over the last century and start a conversation about where we’re going next. By standing on the shoulders of women who gave us the right to vote, we are proud to use our law degrees to make the world a better place for women,” said Allison Lantero, president of the American Constitution Society.

The centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment celebrates 100 years of women’s constitutional right to vote, educates the public about the 19th Amendment and the battle for women’s suffrage, and promotes the law that ensures women’s full and equal exercise of their right to vote and to participate in our democracy.

The exhibit is free to view and will be open to all students, faculty, staff, and the public from  8-5 p.m. weekdays beginning Monday, January 13 to Friday, January 24.

The panel discussion on January 24 is free, but a RSVP is required. You can RSVP here. Following the discussion there will be a reception, and opportunity to view the exhibit from 5-6:30 p.m. in the South Reading Room.  

How Women Have Shaped the Judiciary discussion is sponsored by the Women’s Legal Forum, the American Constitutional Society, and the Notre Dame Law Alumni Office.  
 

Originally published by Denise Wager at law.nd.edu on January 13, 2020.