Lorna Elizabeth Lockwood |
| Posted 2018-04-26 by Pat R |
| Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) Saturday, September 24, 1977, Page 4, Section B State's first woman chief justice dies Phoenix (AP)--Lorna E. Lockwood, the first woman in the country to become a state chief justice, died in a hospital yesterday. She was 74. Lockwood served on the Arizona Supreme Court from 1961 until her retirement in 1975, including two years as chief justice. Death was attributed to pneumonia by doctors at Good Samaritan Hospital where she had been treated intermittently since suffering a fractured jaw in a fall in April. Born in Douglas, Lockwood graduated from the University of Arizona Law School in 1923 and earned a doctorate in law two years later. She practiced law before serving in the state House from 1939 to 1942 and then as a price attorney for the Office of Price Administration in World War II. She re-entered private practice in 1945 and in 1948 was named an assistant state attorney general. She also served a third Arizona House term from 1947 to 1949. Lockwood was elected Maricopa County Superior Court judge in 1951 and to the state Supreme Court in 1960. Her youthful ambition while attending school in Tombstone was to practice law with her father, the late Alfred C. Lockwood. But Lockwood was elected to the Arizona Supreme Court in 1925 and served there until 1942, including three terms as chief justice, limiting their joint practice to five years. While serving as Maricopa County Superior Court judge, Lockwood became known for efforts at controlling juvenile delinquency. Once asked about achieving the state's highest judicial office as a woman, Lockwood said, "I am not a militant feminist, but I am terribly glad when women succeed." Justice Fred Struckmeyer, who was also serving a year as chief justice in 1960 when Lockwood was elected to the high court, called her "one of the best judges we've had." Chief Justice James Duke Cameron called her a "pioneer in the legal profession." "She was the first lady chief justice in the history of the United States, and she achieved this position on merit," Cameron said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) Sunday, September 25, 1977, p. 2 Lockwood Service at Capitol set for Tuesday Phoenix (AP)--A memorial service will be held at the state Capitol at 10 a.m. Tuesday for former Arizona Chief Justice Lorna Lockwood, who died Friday at 74. A funeral will follow at the First Congregational church, officials of A. L. Moore and Sons Mortuary said. Lockwood, the first woman in the nation to be a state chief justice, died of pneumonia at a Phoenix hospital. She had served on the high court since 1961, and was elected chief justice by its members in 1965 and 1971. Lockwood retired from the State Supreme Court in September 1974. [Source for both: Newspapers.com] See Also: Find A Grave |
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