Shirley Abrahamson
Shirley Schlanger Abrahamson (December 17, 1933 – December 19, 2020) was an American politician and lawyer. She was a member and former Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She was appointed to the court in 1976 by Governor Patrick Lucey. She became first woman on Wisconsin's high court.
The Honorable Shirley Abrahamson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 25th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court | |
| In office August 1, 1996 – April 29, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Roland B. Day |
| Succeeded by | Patience D. Roggensack |
| Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court | |
| In office August 1976 – August 1, 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Patrick Lucey |
| Preceded by | Horace W. Wilkie |
| Succeeded by | Brian Hagedorn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shirley Schlanger December 17, 1933 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 19, 2020 (aged 87) Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Pancreatic cancer |
| Spouse(s) | Seymour Abrahamson (m. 1953; died 2016) |
| Children | Daniel |
| Alma mater | New York University (A.B.) Indiana University (J.D.) University of Wisconsin-Madison (LL.M., S.J.D.) |
Career
She was the only woman on the court from 1976 until 1993. Abrahamson was re-elected to the Supreme Court in 1979, 1989, 1999, and 2009. She became Chief Justice on August 1, 1996 and served until April 29, 2015.[1]
Retirement
On May 30, 2018, Abrahamson announced she would not seek re-election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2019.[2]
Death
In August 2018, Abrahamson announced she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[3] She died on December 19, 2020 in Berkeley, California from the disease, aged 87.[4]
References
- Beck, Molly (November 10, 2015). "Shirley Abrahamson drops lawsuit to regain chief justice title". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- Shawn Johnson. "Longtime Wisconsin Justice Shirley Abrahamson Won't Seek Re-Election Archived 2018-11-14 at the Wayback Machine". Wisconsin Public Radio, May 30, 2018.
- Wisconsin Justice Shirley Abrahamson says she has cancer but plans to finish term in 2019
- Marley, Patrick (December 20, 2020). "Shirley Abrahamson, longest-serving member of Wisconsin Supreme Court, dies at 87". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 20, 2020.