Shirley Abrahamson
| Shirley Abrahamson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Associate Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court | |
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Assumed office 1976 |
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| Preceded by | Horace W. Wilkie |
| Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court | |
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In office August 1, 1996 – April 29, 2015 |
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| Appointed by | Patrick Lucey |
| Preceded by | Roland B. Day |
| Succeeded by | Patience D. Roggensack |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 17, 1933 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Seymour Abrahamson |
| Alma mater |
New York University (A.B.) Indiana University (J.D.) University of Wisconsin-Madison (LL.M., S.J.D.) |
| Religion | Judaism |
Shirley S. Abrahamson (born December 17, 1933) is a member and former Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She was appointed to the court in 1976 by Governor Patrick Lucey, becoming the first woman to serve on Wisconsin's high court. She served as 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 in that capacity until April 29, 2015, when Patience Drake Roggensack was elected to the position.
Abrahamson initiated a federal legal challenge seeking reinstatement as Chief Justice. On May 15, 2015 U.S. District Judge James Peterson denied her request to be reinstated as chief justice. Her appeal of this decision was dismissed on July 31, 2015. and she withdrew her lawsuit on November 10, 2015.
Abrahamson was born and raised in New York City, where she attended Hunter College High School. She earned an A.B. magna cum laude from New York University in 1953, a J.D. with high distinction from Indiana University Law School in 1956, and an S.J.D. in American legal history from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1962.
Abrahamson practiced law in Madison, Wisconsin for 14 years and was a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1976 by Governor Patrick Lucey, becoming the first woman to serve on Wisconsin's high court. She became Chief Justice on August 1, 1996 and served in that capacity until April 29, 2015.
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