List of first women lawyers and judges in California
This is a list of the first women lawyer and judge in California. It includes the year in which the women were admitted to practice law. Also included are women who achieved other distinctions such becoming the first in their state to obtain a law degree or become a political figure.
Firsts in state history
Lawyers
- Clara Shortridge Foltz : First female lawyer in California
- Christine la Barraque : First blind female lawyer in California
- Annie Coker : First African American female lawyer in California
- Chiyoko Sakamoto : First Japanese American female lawyer in California
- Emma Ping Lum : First Chinese American female lawyer in California
- Mary Virginia Orozco : First Latino American female lawyer in California
- Eleanor Nisperos : First Filipino American female lawyer in California
- Abby Abinanti : First Native American female lawyer in California. She would later become a judge.
Judicial Officers
State
Justice of the Peace
- Clara Jess and Edna Jesse Keeran: First female Justices of the Peace respectively in California
Judges
- Georgia Bullock : First female judge in California
- Vaino Spencer : First African American female judge in California
- Joan Klein : First female to serve as a Presiding Justice in California
- Ann H. Rutherford : First female to serve as a judge in a rural county in California
- Frances Munoz : First Latino American female judge in California
- Patricia A. Yim Cowett : First Chinese American female judge in California
- Mary C. Morgan : First openly LGBT female judge in California
- Lillian Sing : First Chinese American female judge in California
- Lillian Y. Lim : First Filipino American female judge in California
- Kathleen Akao : First Asian American female elected as a judge in California
- Shala Sabet : First Iranian American female judge in California
- Rosemary Pfeiffer : First openly LGBT to serve as a Presiding Judge in California
- Tammy Chung Ryu : First Korean American female judge in California
- Victoria Kolakowski : First openly LGBT judge in California
- Rupa Goswami : First South Asian American female judge in California
Appellate Court
- Annette Abbott Adams : First female to serve as an appellate court judge in California
- Pauline Hanson : First female appointed as Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal in California
- Arleigh M. Woods : First African American female appointed as a Judge of the Court of Appeal in California
- Margaret J. Morris : First female to serve as an Associate Justice and Presiding Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in California
- Joan Klein : First female to serve as a Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal
- Betty Barry-Deal : First female appointed as a Judge of the First District Court of Appeal in California
- Patricia D. Benke : First female appointed as a Judge of the Fourth District Court of Appeal
- Janice Rogers Brown : First African American female appointed as a Judge of the Third District Court of Appeal in California
- Carol Codrington : First African American female appointed as a Judge of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in California
- Kathleen O'Leary : First female Presiding Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal
- Therese M. Stewart : First openly LGBT female appointed as a Judge of the California Court of Appeal
- Carin T. Fujisaki : First Asian-Pacific Islander female appointed as a Judge of the First District Court of Appeal in California
- Marsha G. Slough : First openly LGBT female appointed as a Judge of the Fourth District Court of Appeal
- Dorothy Kim : First Korean American female appointed as a Judge of the Second District Court of Appeal in California
- Teri L. Jackson : First African American female appointed as a Judge of the First District Court of Appeal in California
Supreme Court
- Rose Bird : First female appointed as a Justice of the California Supreme Court
- Tani Cantil-Sakauye : First Asian-Filipino American female justice to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court
Federal
District Court
- Mariana Pfaelzer : First female to serve as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- Erithe M. Smith : First African American female to serve as a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court
- Consuelo B. Marshall : First female to serve as the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- Marilyn Hall Patel : First female to serve as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and its Chief Judge
- Saundra Brown Armstrong : First African American female to serve as a Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- Phyllis J. Hamilton : First African American female judge to serve as the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- Audrey B. Collins : First African American female judge to serve as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- Dolly M. Gee : First Chinese American female appointed as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- Jacqueline Nguyen : First Vietnamese American female appointed as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers : First Latino American female justice appointed as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- Lucy H. Koh : First Korean American female appointed as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- Kimberly J. Mueller : First female appointed as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Appellate Court
- Shirley Hufstedler : First female to serve as a U.S. Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Kim McLane Wardlaw : First Hispanic American female appointed as a U.S. Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Attorney General
- Kamala Harris : First female to serve as the Attorney General of California
Deputy Attorney General
- Pauli Murray : First African American female to serve as the Deputy Attorney General of California
Assistant Attorney General
- Doris H. Maier : First female Assistant Attorney General of California
United States Attorney
- Annette Abbott Adams : First female to serve as a U.S. for the Northern District of California
- Andrea Ordin : First female appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
- Debra Wong Yang : First Asian American female appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
District Attorney
- June Schnacke: First female to serve as a District Attorney in California
- Kamala Harris : First female African American and Indian American female to become a District Attorney in California
Deputy District Attorney
- Clara Shortridge Foltz : First female Deputy District Attorney in California
- Marion L. Obera : First African American female to serve as a Deputy District Attorney in California
City Attorney
- Jayne Williams : First African American female to become a City Attorney in California
Political Office
- Roberta Achtenberg : First openly LGBT female appointment to a federal position was confirmed by the U.S. Senate
- Sheila Kuehl : First openly LGBT female member of the California legislature
- Kamala Harris : First female to serve as a U.S. Senator from California
Bar Association
- Margaret Mary Morrow : First female to serve as President of the State Bar of California
- Karen S. Nobumoto : First female of color to serve as the President of the State Bar of California
- Holly Fujie : First Asian American female to serve as the President of the State Bar of California
Firsts in local history
Region
- Betty Tom Chu : First Chinese American female lawyer in Southern California
- Lillian Sing : First Chinese American female judge in Northern California
- Denise de Bellefeuille : First female judge on the South Coast in California
Alameda County
- Marguerite Ogden: First female lawyer in Alameda County, California
- Eloise Cushing : First female lawyer in Oakland, California. She served as the County Librarian for Alameda County Law Library and ran for a judicial position in 1930.
- Cecil Mosbacher : First female judge in Alameda County, California
- Jacqueline Taber : First female appointed as a Judge of the Oakland-Piedmont Municipal Court
- Judith Ford : First African American female judge in Alameda County, California
- Phyllis J. Hamilton : First African American female to serve as a Commissioner of the Alameda County Superior Court
- Jayne Williams : First African American female to become the City Attorney in Alameda County, California
- Peggy Hora : First female judge in Southern Alameda County, California
- Cecilia Castellanos : First Latino American female judge in Alameda County, California
- Jo-Lynne Q. Lee : First Chinese American female appointed as a Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court
- Brenda Harbin-Forte : First African American female appointed as the Presiding Judge of the Alameda County Juvenile Court
- Diane Bellas : First female Public Defender of Alameda County, California
- Nancy E. O'Malley : First female to serve as the District Attorney for Alameda County, California
- Margaret Fujioka : First Japanese American female judge in Alameda County, California
- Trina Thompson Stanley : First African American female elected judge in Alameda County, California
- Kimberly E. Colwell : First openly LGBT female judge in Alameda County, California
- Eumi K. Lee : First Korean American female judge in Alameda County, California. She is the first Korean American to serve on the bench.
Alpine County
- Terese Drabec and Karen Dustman : First females to serve consecutively as the District Attorney for Alpine County, California. Per available online sources, Colleen E. Hemingway —who served from 1996-1998—may have been the first female District Attorney for Alpine County.
Amador County
- Susan Harlan : First female judge in Amador County, California
Butte County
- Mary King : First female lawyer in Butte County, California
- Ann H. Rutherford : First female judge in Butte County, California
Calaveras County
- Mora Murphy : First female lawyer in Calaveras County, California
- Barbara Yook : First female District Attorney for Calaveras County, California
- Traci L. Witry : First female judge in Calaveras County, California
Colusa County
- Edna Jesse Keeran: First female Justice of the Peace in Colusa County, California
- Elizabeth “Betsy” Ufkes Olivera : First female judge in Colusa County, California
Contra Costa County
- Betsy Fitzgerald Rahn : First female Judge of the Walnut Creek Municipal Court
- E. Patricia Herron : First female Judge of the Superior Court of Contra Costa County, California
- Bessie Dreibelbis : First female Judge of the Richmond Municipal Court
- Ellen James : First female Judge of the Mt. Diablo Judicial District
- Patricia McKinley : First African American female judge in Contra Costa County, California
- Barbara Zuñiga : First Hispanic American female judge in Contra Costa County, California
- Irene Takahashi : First Asian American female judge in Contra Costa County, California
- Diana Becton : First female to serve as the District Attorney for Contra Costa County, California
- Joni Hiramoto : First Asian American female Judge of the Superior Court of Contra Costa County, California
Del Norte County
- Alyce Moseley: First female municipal court judge for Crescent City, California
- Chris Doehle : First female superior court judge in Del Norte County, California
El Dorado County
- Jean S. Klotz : First female from El Dorado County to graduate from the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California
- Suzanne Kingsbury : First female judge in El Dorado County, California
Fresno County
- Pauline Hanson : First female appointed as a Judge of the Fresno County Superior Court
- Judith Leslie Soley : First female to serve as the President of the Fresno County Bar Association
- Hilary A. Chittick : First female to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Fresno County Superior Court
- Susan B. Andersen : First female to serve in a countywide position
- Jane Cardoza : First Hispanic American female elected to serve as a Judge of the Fresno County Superior Court
- Glenda Allen-Hill : First African American female judge in Fresno County, California
- Elizabeth Diaz : First female Public Defender for Fresno County, California
- Elizabeth Egan : First female District Attorney for Fresno County, California
Glenn County
- Alicia Ekland : First female appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court of Glenn County, California
Humboldt County
- Elizabeth J. Morrison : First female lawyer in Humboldt County, California
- Marilyn B. Miles : First female judge in Humboldt County, California
- Maggie Fleming : First female District Attorney for Humboldt County, California
Imperial County
- Annie M. Gutierrez : First female judge in Imperial County, California
- Diane Altamirano : First female to serve as the Presiding Judge for the Superior Court of Imperial County, California
- Katherine Kmiec Turner : First female County Counsel for Imperial County, California
Inyo County
- Peggy Noland : First female to serve as the President of the Inyo County Bar Association in California
Kern County
- Ellen Miller : First female judge in Kern County, California. She is reputed to be the first female lawyer in Bakersfield, California.
- Lisa Green : First female to serve as the District Attorney for Kern County, California
- Raymonda Burnham : First female public defender and criminal defense lawyer to be appointed a Judge of the Kern County Superior Court
- Gloria J. Cannon : First African American female judge in Kern County, California
- Pam Singh : First female Public Defender for Kern County, California
- Judith K. Dulcich and Colette M. Humphrey : First females to serve simultaneously as the Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge respectively for Kern County Superior Court
Kings County
- Colleen Carlson : First female to lead the Office of County Counsel in Kings County, California
- Tonya Lee : First female to serve as the Deputy District Attorney in Kings County, California
Lake County
- Betty Irwin : First female judge in Lake County, California
- Susan Krones : First female District Attorney for Lake County, California
- Shanda Harry : First female elected as a Judge of the Lake County Superior Court, California
Lassen County
- Gladys Spencer Burroughs : First female judge in Lassen County, California
- Paula A. Tennant : First female to serve as the District Attorney for Lassen County, California
- Michele Verderosa : First female to open a law practice in Susanville
Los Angeles County
- Clara Shortridge Foltz : First female Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, California
- Elizabeth Kenney : First female lawyer in Los Angeles, California
- Orfa Jean Shontz : First female referee of the Juvenile Court of Los Angeles County, California
- Georgia Bullock : First female judge in Los Angeles County, California
- May Darlington Lahey : First female to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Municipal Court
- Mabel Walker Willebrandt : First female Public Defender of Los Angeles County, California
- Vaino Spencer : First African American female judge in Los Angeles County, California
- Marion L. Obera : First African American female to serve as a Deputy District Attorney in California
- Consuelo B. Marshall : First female to work in the City Attorney's Office for Los Angeles
- Patricia Phillips : First female to serve as the President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, California
- Ramona Perez : First Latino American female judge in Los Angeles County, California
- Maxine F. Thomas : First African American female appointed as a Presiding Judge of Los Angeles Municipal Court
- Carol L. Newman : First openly LGBT female to serve as the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Los Angeles County, California
- Jackie Lacey : First female District Attorney for Los Angeles County, California
- Maria Rohaidy : First Hispanic American female to serve as the President of the Long Beach Bar Association, Los Angeles County, California
- Jacqueline Nguyen : First Vietnamese American female judge in Los Angeles County, California
Madera County
- Marcia Putney: First female judge in Madera County, California
- Sally Moreno : First female District Attorney for Madera County, California
Marin County
- Genevieve Martinelli : First female prosecutor in Marin County, California
- Ann Diamond : First female lawyer to serve as President of the Marin County Bar Association
- Beverly Savitt and Lynn O'Malley Taylor : First female judges in Marin County, California
- Paula Kamena : First female District Attorney for Marin County, California
Mariposa County
- Barbara K. Shea: First female Justice of the Peace in Mariposa County, California
Mendocino County
- Laura Scudder : First female lawyer in Ukiah, California
- Cindee F. Mayfield : First female judge in Mendocino County, California
Merced County
- Flossie Lobo: First female to be elected judge in Merced County, California
- Angil Morris-Jones : First African American female judge in Merced County, California
- Kimberly Reitz Helms Lewis : First female elected District Attorney for Merced County, California
Modoc County
- Annette Abbott Adams : One of the first females to serve as a school principal in California
Mono County
- In 2018, Therese M. Hankel, Esq. launched a campaign to become the first female judge in Mono County, California. She lost the election.
Monterey County
- Elizabeth Helfrich : First female lawyer in Salinas, California
- Wendy Clark Duffy : First female judge in Monterey County, California
- Marla O. Anderson : First African American female to become a Judge of the Monterey County Superior Court
- Jeannine Pacioni : First female to serve as the District Attorney for Monterey County, California
Napa County
- Elizabeth "Babe" King Robinson: First female lawyer in Napa, California
- Francisca P. Tisher : First female judge in Napa County, California
- Elia Ortiz : First Latino American female judge in Napa County, California
- Monique Langhorne : First African American female judge in Napa County, California
- Allison Haley : First female District Attorney for Napa County, California
Nevada County
- Karen Gunderson: First female judge in Nevada County, California
Orange County
- Clara Cushman : First female lawyer in Orange County, California
- Celia Young Baker : First female judge in Orange County, California
- Betty Lou Lamoreaux : First female to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County, California
- Alicemarie Stotler : First female lawyer to work in the Orange County District Attorney's Office
- Frances Munoz : First Latino American lawyer hired by the Public Defender's Office in Orange County, California
- Heidi Mueller : First female lawyer to practice criminal defense full-time in Orange County, California
- Karen Robinson : First African American female judge in Orange County, California
- Cristina L. Talley : First Latino American female to become the City Attorney for Anaheim, California
- Sheila Hanson : First Iranian American female judge in Orange County, California
- Lei Lei Wang Ekvall : First Asian American female to serve as the President of the Orange County Bar Association
Placer County
- Frances Pearl Rains: First female Justice Court Judge in Foresthill, California
- Tamara Dahn : First female to serve as the President of the Placer County B
ar Association Plumas County
- Janet Hilde : First female judge in Plumas County, California
Riverside County
- Mary McFarland Hall : Reputed to be the first female lawyer in Riverside County, California
- Janice McIntyre : First female judge in Riverside County, California
- Irma Poole Asberry : First African American female judge in Riverside County, California
- Raquel A. Marquez-Britsch : First Latino American female judge in Riverside County, California and San Bernardino County, California
- Susanne Cho : First Korean American female judge in Riverside County, California
- Sunshine S. Sykes : First Native American female judge in Riverside County, California
Sacramento County
- Valla E. Parkinson : First female lawyer in Sacramento County, California
- Margaret Flynn : First female judge in Sacramento County, California
- Virginia S. Mueller : First female Deputy District Attorney for Sacramento County, California
- Frances Newell Carr : First female appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento, California
- Alice A. Lytle : First African American female judge in Sacramento County, California
- Jan Scully : First female District Attorney for Sacramento County, California
- Emily E. Vasquez : First Latino American female to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento, California
- Shama H. Mesiwala : First South Asian American female judge in Sacramento County, California
San Benito County
- Lorena Johnson: First female Justice of the Peace in San Benito County, California
- Jean Flanagan: First female lawyer in San Benito County, California
- Candace Hooper: First female to serve as the District Attorney for San Benito County, California
San Bernardino County
- Grace Storey Merlo: First female Deputy Public Defender for San Bernardino County, California
- Margaret J. Morris : First female judge in San Bernardino County, California
- Katrina West ; First African American female to serve as a Judge of the San Bernardino County Superior Court
- Raquel A. Marquez-Britsch : First Latino American female judge in Riverside County, California and San Bernardino County, California
- Doreen Boxer : First female Public Defender for San Bernardino County, California
- Lily L. Sinfield : First Asian-Pacific Islander female judge in San Bernardino County, California
San Diego County
- Clara Shortridge Foltz : First female lawyer in San Diego County, California
- Madge Bradley : First female judge in San Diego County, California
- Patricia A. Yim Cowett : First Chinese American female judge in San Diego County, California
- Melinda Lasatar : First female to serve as the President of the San Diego County Bar Association
- Elizabeth Riggs : First African American female judge in San Diego County, California
- Bonnie Dumanis : First Jewish and openly LGBT female District Attorney of San Diego
- Mara Elliott : First Latina American female lawyer elected as City Attorney for San Diego, California
- Truc T. Do : First Vietnamese American female judge in San Diego County, California
- Marcella "Marcy" McLaughlin : First Latina American female to serve as the President of the San Diego County Bar Association
San Francisco County
- Clara Shortridge Foltz : First female lawyer in San Francisco County, California
- Mary Wetmore and Theresa Meikle : First female judges respectively in San Francisco County, California
- Tabytha Anderson : First African American female lawyer in San Francisco County, California
- Miriam Wolff : First female to serve as the Director of the Port of San Francisco, California
- Molly Minudri : First female Deputy Public Defender for San Francisco County, California
- Estella Dooley : First African American female lawyer to work for the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office
- Joanne M. Garvey : First female to serve as the President of the Bar Association of San Francisco
- Mary C. Morgan : First openly LGBT female judge in San Francisco County, California
- Lillian Sing : First Chinese American female judge in San Francisco County, California
- Teri L. Jackson : First African American female appointed as a Judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court
- Therese Stewart : First openly LGBT female to serve as the President of the Bar Association of San Francisco
- Teresa Caffese: First female to serve as the Chief Attorney for the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office
- Suzanne Bolanos : First Latina American female judge in San Francisco County, California
- Kamala Harris : First female District Attorney in San Francisco County
- Kimiko Burton : First female Public Defender for San Francisco County, California
- Vedica Puri : First South Asian American female judge in San Francisco County, California
San Joaquin County
- Laura de Force Gordon: First female lawyer in San Joaquin County, California
- Priscilla Hope Haynes : First female judge in San Joaquin County, California
- Consuelo María Callahan : First Hispanic American female judge in San Joaquin County, California. She would later become a circuit court judge.
- Emma Souza : First female lawyer in Tracy, California
- Lauren Thomasson : First African American female judge in San Joaquin County, California
- Tori Verber Salazar: First female District Attorney for San Joaquin County, California
San Luis Obispo County
- Teresa Estrada-Mullaney : First female Deputy District Attorney and judge in San Luis Obispo County, California
San Mateo County
- Clara Jess: First female Justice of the Peace in Daly City, California
- Margaret Kemp : First female judge in San Mateo County, California
- Rosemary Pfeiffer : First openly LGBT judge in San Mateo County, California. She was also the first openly LGBT female to serve as the Presiding Judge.
- Nancy Ligon de Ita : First Hispanic American female to serve as the President of the San Mateo County Bar Association
- Elizabeth Lee : First Asian-Pacific American female judge in San Mateo County, California
- Amarra A. Lee : First African American female appointed as a Judge of the San Mateo County Superior Court, California
Santa Barbara County
- Deborah Talmage : First female commissioner in Santa Barbara County, California
- Barbara J. Beck : First female judge in Santa Barbara County, California
- Christie Stanley : First female to serve as the District Attorney for Santa Barbara County, California
- Von T. Nguyen Deroian : First Asian-Pacific Islander female judge in Santa Barbara County, California
- Kay Kuns: First female lawyer from Santa Ynez Valley to become a Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Barbara
Santa Clara County
- Clara Shortridge Foltz : First female lawyer in Santa Clara County, California
- Isabel Charles: First female Justice of the Peace in Santa Clara County, California
- Miriam E. Wolff : First female appointed as a municipal court judge in Santa Clara County, California
- Marilyn Pestarino Zecher : First female judge in Santa Clara County, California
- Rose Bird : First female Deputy Public Defender for Santa Clara County, California
- LaDoris Cordell : First African American female to serve as a Judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court
- Rolanda Pierre Dixon: First African American to serve as an Assistant District Attorney for Santa Clara County, California
- Erica Yew: First Asian American female to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California
- Katherine L. Lucero : First Latino American female to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California
- Dolores Carr : First female District Attorney for Santa Clara County, California
- Mary Greenwood : First female Public Defender for Santa Clara County, California
- Risë Jones Pichon : First African American female to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California
- Nahal Iravani-Sani : First Iranian American female judge in Santa Clara County, California
- Audra Ibarra : First Filipino American female judge in Santa Clara County, California. She is also the first Filipino American to serve on the bench.
- Elvira Robinson : First Latino American female to serve as the Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County, California
Santa Cruz County
- Lucy Underwood McCann : First female lawyer in Santa Cruz County, California
- June Schnacke: First female to serve as a District Attorney for Santa Cruz County, California
- Heather Morse : First female judge in Santa Cruz County, California
- Kathleen Akao : First Asian American female elected as a judge in Santa Cruz County, California
Shasta County
- Elnora Beth Livezey : First lawyer to serve as a Commissioner for Shasta County Superior Court, California
- Stephanie Bridgett : First female Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney for Shasta County, California
Sierra County
- Yvette Durant : First female judge in Sierra County, California
Siskiyou County
- Jane L. Edwards : First female to serve as the District Attorney for Siskiyou County, California
- Karen L. Dixon: First female elected as a judge in Siskiyou County, California
Solano County
- Marian Randall : Possibly the first female lawyer in Solano County, California
- Jean E. Simpson : First female lawyer to be assigned to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California
- Barbara James : First female magistrate in Solano County's history
- Lesli Caldwell : First female Public Defender of Solano County
- Ramona Garrett : First female Judge of the Solano County Superior Court
- Cynda Unger : First female elected as a Judge of the Solano County Superior Court
- Krishna Abrams : First female District Attorney of Solano County
- Claudia Quintana : First Latino American female to become the City Attorney for Vallejo, California
- Bernadette Curry : First female to serve as the County Counsel for Solano County
- Dora M. Rios : First Latino American female Judge of the Solano County Superior Court
- Kelly Trujillo : First Latino American female to serve as the President of the Solano County Bar Association (
Sonoma County
- Luda Fulkerson Barham: First female lawyer in Sonoma County, California
- Ellen Fleming: First female Justice of the Peace in Sonoma County, California
- Gayle Guynup : First female judge in Sonoma County, California
- Elaine Malisch Rushing: First female appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court of Sonoma County
- Virginia Marcoida : First Latino American female to serve as a Judge of the Sonoma County Superior Court
- Jill Ravitch : First female District Attorney for Sonoma County, California
- Kathleen Pozzi : First female Public Defender for Sonoma County, California
- Barbara Phelan : First openly LGBT female appointed as a Judge of the Sonoma County Superior Court
Stanislaus County
- Esto Bates Broughton : First female lawyer in Stanislaus County, California
- Ann Veneman : First female to serve as the Deputy Public Defender in Stanislaus County, California
- Susan D. Siefken: First female to serve as the President of the Stanislaus County Bar Association
- Dawna Frenchie Reeves : First African American female judge in Stanislaus County, California
- Birgit Fladager : First elected female District Attorney of Stanislaus County, California
Sutter County
- Susan Green : First female judge in Sutter County, California
- Amanda Hopper : First female District Attorney for Sutter County, California
Tehama County
- Lisa Muto : First female lawyer to run as a judicial candidate in Tehama County, California
- Laura S. Woods : First female judge in Tehama County, California
Trinity County
- Elizabeth "Liz" Johnson : First female judge in Trinity County, California
- Megan Marshall and Donna Daly: First females to serve as the District Attorney for Trinity County on an interim and permanent basis respectively
Tulare County
- Anna White Garlund : First female lawyer in Tulare County, California
- Melinda M. Reed and Elisabeth B. Krant-Latronico : Per available sources, the first females to serve respectively as municipal court judges in Tulare County, California. They would both later become superior court judges in 1998.
- Lisa Bertolino : First female Public Defender for Tulare County, California
Tuolumne County
- Eleanor Provost : First female to serve as the Deputy District Attorney for Tuolumne County, California. She later became a judge.
- Cherie Spitze : First female President of the Tuolumne County Bar Association
Ventura County
- Alice Titus Magill : First female lawyer in Ventura County, California
- Melinda Johnson : First female judge and Presiding Judge in Ventura County, California
- Michele M. Castillo : First Latino American/Filipino American female judge in Ventura County, California
Yolo County
- Gloria Megino Ochoa : First Filipino American female to graduate from the UC Davis School of Law
- Donna Petre : First female judge in Yolo County, California
- Sonia Cortés : First Latino American female judge in Yolo County, California
Yuba County
- Kathleen O'Connor : First female judge in Yuba County, California
Other topics of interest
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in the United States
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in California