Anne X. Alpern

Anne X. Alpern
Photo, c. 1960
Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
In office September 7, 1961 – January 1, 1962
Preceded by	Charles Alvin Jones
Succeeded by	Henry X. O'Brien
Pennsylvania Attorney General
In office January 20, 1959 – August 28, 1961
Preceded by	Thomas D. McBride
Succeeded by	David Henry Stahl
Personal details
Born	December 25, 1903 Russia
Died	February 2, 1981 (aged 77) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Pittsburgh

Anne X. Alpern (December 25, 1903 – February 2, 1981) was an American jurist and politician who served as the attorney general for Pennsylvania and was later appointed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. She was the first woman to hold either position.

Alpern was born in Russia and moved with her family to Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania, as a young child. Alpern earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1923 and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1927. After graduating law school, she began working as an attorney for a local law firm.

In 1934, Pittsburgh city solicitor Ward Bonsall hired Alpern as a temporary assistant city solicitor, to assist with a backlog of cases after the election of Mayor William N. McNair. The job was unpaid, but Alpern worked long hours and won a number of cases, and she was promoted the next year to first assistant city solicitor. Alpern served in this capacity for several years, under several city solicitors, and at times she served as an interim solicitor, following the death or termination of an appointed solicitor. In 1942, Alpern was appointed by Mayor Cornelius D. Scully to become city solicitor herself. She was the first woman ever to serve as solicitor of a major American city.

In 1953, after a distinguished career as city solicitor, Alpern was elected to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County as a Democrat.

...
Wikipedia