Caroline Duby Glassman
Encyclopedia
Caroline Duby Glassman is an American attorney and former jurist in the state of Maine
. A native of Oregon
, she completed college and law school in that state before moving to Portland, Maine
, where she practiced law with her husband Harry P. Glassman. In 1983, she became the first woman to serve on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
.
city of Baker
(now Baker City). Her great-grandmother on her father’s side had been part of the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans, with her father also of French heritage. Duby grew up in Eastern Oregon where she attended the public schools in Baker and neighboring Keating
. After high school she enrolled at Eastern Oregon College of Education (now Eastern Oregon University
) in La Grande
.
In 1941, she graduated from the school with honors and an associates degree. Caroline then entered law school at Willamette University College of Law
in Salem, Oregon
, where she was one of only two women at the school. Both her father and the dean discouraged her from attending the school. She roomed off-campus with her other female classmate after the school consented, but only upon gaining permission from each student’s parents. The two boarded together until the other dropped out after two years. Caroline graduated from Willamette summa cum laude in 1944 with a bachelor of laws
degree.
in 1944, she began practicing law in Salem for the Salem Title Insurance Company. She worked there from 1944 until 1946, and then moved to California
where she became an associate of Melvin M. Belli in San Francisco in 1952. In 1953, she married Harry Paul Glassman in San Francisco, and they had a son, Max. She continued working for Belli until 1960 when the family moved to Maine.
From 1967 to 1968 she lectured at the University of Maine School of Law
. Caroline Glassman returned to practicing law in 1969 as a sole practitioner, and continued until 1974 when she joined the law firm of Glassman & Potter in Portland, Maine
. She continued with the firm until 1979 when she joined Glassman, Beagle & Ridge. Her husband Harry served on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
from 1979 until his death in 1981. Glassman served as the president of the Cumberland Bar Association in 1982 and was on the state bar association’s board of governors from 1982 to 1983.
on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. She was confirmed by the Maine State Senate on August 4, in a unanimous vote. Glassman was sworn into office on August 30 as the 93rd justice in the court’s history and became the first woman to ever serve on what is that state’s highest court.
While on the bench, she received several honorary degree
s, including from the University of New England in 1985, Bowdoin College
in 1986, Husson College
in 1989, and finally in 1994 from her alma mater, Willamette University College of Law
. In 1990, Gov. John McKernan nominated Glassman for a second seven-year term on the court, and she was once again confirmed by the state senate. In early 1997 she announced she would not seek a third term, but hoped her replacement would be another woman. Glassman sought retirement before she felt burnt out and in order to become more involved in community activities that the rules of judicial conduct would otherwise prohibit. She left the bench on September 1, 1997.
. The women's section of Maine's bar association
created the Caroline Duby Glassman Award in 1993. She lives in Portland, Maine
.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. A native of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, she completed college and law school in that state before moving to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, where she practiced law with her husband Harry P. Glassman. In 1983, she became the first woman to serve on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
.
Early life
Caroline Duby was born on September 13, 1922, to Caroline Marie (née Colton) and Charles Ferdinand Duby in the Eastern OregonEastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
city of Baker
Baker City, Oregon
Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
(now Baker City). Her great-grandmother on her father’s side had been part of the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans, with her father also of French heritage. Duby grew up in Eastern Oregon where she attended the public schools in Baker and neighboring Keating
Keating, Oregon
Keating is an unincorporated community in Baker County, Oregon. Keating lies off Keating Road north of its interchange with Oregon Route 86. Keating is northeast of Baker City....
. After high school she enrolled at Eastern Oregon College of Education (now Eastern Oregon University
Eastern Oregon University
Eastern Oregon University is one of seven state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the State of Oregon and belongs to the Oregon University System...
) in La Grande
La Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
.
In 1941, she graduated from the school with honors and an associates degree. Caroline then entered law school at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, where she was one of only two women at the school. Both her father and the dean discouraged her from attending the school. She roomed off-campus with her other female classmate after the school consented, but only upon gaining permission from each student’s parents. The two boarded together until the other dropped out after two years. Caroline graduated from Willamette summa cum laude in 1944 with a bachelor of laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree.
Legal career
After passing the Oregon barOregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
in 1944, she began practicing law in Salem for the Salem Title Insurance Company. She worked there from 1944 until 1946, and then moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where she became an associate of Melvin M. Belli in San Francisco in 1952. In 1953, she married Harry Paul Glassman in San Francisco, and they had a son, Max. She continued working for Belli until 1960 when the family moved to Maine.
From 1967 to 1968 she lectured at the University of Maine School of Law
University of Maine School of Law
The University of Maine School of Law is located in Portland, Maine and is Maine's only law school. It is a freestanding institution within the University of Maine System. In practice, it is administered as a unit of the University of Southern Maine, which provides the law school's support staff...
. Caroline Glassman returned to practicing law in 1969 as a sole practitioner, and continued until 1974 when she joined the law firm of Glassman & Potter in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. She continued with the firm until 1979 when she joined Glassman, Beagle & Ridge. Her husband Harry served on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
from 1979 until his death in 1981. Glassman served as the president of the Cumberland Bar Association in 1982 and was on the state bar association’s board of governors from 1982 to 1983.
Judicial career
On July 7, 1983, Maine Governor Joseph E. Brennan nominated Glassman to replace Gene CarterGene Carter
Gene Carter is a United States federal judge.Born in Milbridge, Maine, Carter received a B.A. from the University of Maine in 1958 and an LL.B. from New York University School of Law in 1961. He was a law clerk to the Hon. J...
on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. She was confirmed by the Maine State Senate on August 4, in a unanimous vote. Glassman was sworn into office on August 30 as the 93rd justice in the court’s history and became the first woman to ever serve on what is that state’s highest court.
While on the bench, she received several honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s, including from the University of New England in 1985, Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1986, Husson College
Husson College
Husson University, formerly Husson College, is a private university located in Bangor, Maine, USA offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Enrollment for the 2009-2010 academic year was over 3,500 students, with approximately 600 of those in graduate programs.-History:The university named after...
in 1989, and finally in 1994 from her alma mater, Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
. In 1990, Gov. John McKernan nominated Glassman for a second seven-year term on the court, and she was once again confirmed by the state senate. In early 1997 she announced she would not seek a third term, but hoped her replacement would be another woman. Glassman sought retirement before she felt burnt out and in order to become more involved in community activities that the rules of judicial conduct would otherwise prohibit. She left the bench on September 1, 1997.
Later life
After leaving the bench she was involved with the Russian American Rule of Law Commission between Maine and the Russian city of ArchangelArkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
. The women's section of Maine's bar association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
created the Caroline Duby Glassman Award in 1993. She lives in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.