Mary C. Morgan
Encyclopedia
Mary Carolyn Morgan is a judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court
and former judge of the San Francisco Municipal Court. She was the first openly lesbian
judge appointed in the United States.
from Smith College
in 1967 and a J.D.
from New York University School of Law
in 1972.
Gray Davis
appointed Morgan to the San Francisco County Superior Court
.
, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
during the Clinton Administration. Senator Jesse Helms
, who had referred to Achtenberg as "that damn lesbian", had held up Achtenberg's nomination and was particularly outraged at discovering that Achtenberg and Morgan had kissed during a gay pride parade
.
San Francisco County Superior Court
The San Francisco County Superior Court is one of the Superior Courts of California....
and former judge of the San Francisco Municipal Court. She was the first openly lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
judge appointed in the United States.
Early life and education
Morgan received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1967 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
in 1972.
Career
From 1981 to 1993, Morgan served on the San Francisco Municipal Court. On April 3, 2003, GovernorGovernor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
appointed Morgan to the San Francisco County Superior Court
San Francisco County Superior Court
The San Francisco County Superior Court is one of the Superior Courts of California....
.
Personal
At the time of her appointment to the San Francisco County Superior Court, Morgan's partner was Roberta AchtenbergRoberta Achtenberg
Roberta Achtenberg is an American politician. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights. She served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S...
, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
during the Clinton Administration. Senator Jesse Helms
Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. was a five-term Republican United States Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001...
, who had referred to Achtenberg as "that damn lesbian", had held up Achtenberg's nomination and was particularly outraged at discovering that Achtenberg and Morgan had kissed during a gay pride parade
Gay pride parade
Pride parades for the LGBT community are events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture. The events also at times serve as demonstrations for legal rights such as same-sex marriage...
.