Mabel Houze Hubbard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mabel Evelyn Houze Hubbard
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| Maryland District Court | |
| In office 1981–1985 |
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| Appointed by | Harry Hughes |
| Maryland Circuit Court | |
| In office 1985–1999 |
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| Appointed by | Harry Hughes |
| Preceded by | Robert B. Watts Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mabel Evevlyn Houze
December 22, 1936 Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | December 9, 2006 (aged 69) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Spouse | Robert Hubbard |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Known for | First African-American woman to be a judge in Maryland |
Mabel Evelyn Houze Hubbard (December 22, 1936 – December 9, 2006) was an important American judge and teacher. She started her career teaching English and working in schools. Later, she went to law school after having children.
This led to a new career as a judge. In 1981, Governor Harry Hughes chose her for the Maryland District Court in Baltimore. Four years later, she joined the Circuit Court. Mabel Hubbard was the first African American woman to hold these important judge roles in Maryland.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mabel Evelyn Houze was born on December 22, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Her father owned a restaurant, and her mother was a nurse.
Mabel went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1958. She also continued her studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pennsylvania.
Career Journey
Mabel Hubbard started her career as an English teacher. She taught in public schools in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Later, she became a vice principal and a social worker.
In 1964, she married Robert Hubbard. They moved to Baltimore in 1970. She taught English at Walbrook High School. Then, she decided to stop teaching to raise her two sons.
Becoming a Lawyer
While raising her children, Mabel Hubbard decided to go back to school. She enrolled in law school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. She really enjoyed studying law.
She graduated in 1975 and passed the bar exam that same year. After one more year of teaching at Walbrook High School, she joined the City Solicitor's office in Baltimore. She worked there as an assistant city solicitor.
First African American Woman Judge
In 1978, Mabel Hubbard was appointed as a master in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Baltimore. She was the first woman to hold this position. This was also unusual because she had been out of law school for less than five years.
Hubbard mostly handled cases involving young people. People saw her work as fair and understanding. She once said she liked the job because helping young people often made a big difference in their lives.
She continued in this role until 1981. That year, Governor Harry Hughes appointed her to the Maryland District Court for Baltimore City. Because of this and her earlier role, she is known as the first African American woman to become a judge in Maryland. Before 1950, African American women were not allowed to be lawyers in the state.
Impact and Mentorship
Mabel Hubbard became well-known as one of the few African American judges in Baltimore. The city had a large African American population. She was a quiet person, but she understood how important her role was.
She often spoke to community groups and schools. She also felt it was her duty to help others. She hired many African American women as clerks over the years. She helped them start their own careers, and some became very successful, like Lisa Gladden, who became a state senator.
Circuit Court Judge
Four years after becoming a district court judge, Mabel Hubbard was promoted. Governor Hughes again appointed her, this time to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. The next year, she was elected to serve a 15-year term.
She worked as a Circuit Court judge until she retired in 1999.
In 2002, she was honored and added to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. The award recognized her calm way of judging cases. It also noted her quick mind and funny sayings, which people called "Hubbardisms." These sayings helped manage serious courtrooms.
Later Life and Legacy
Mabel Hubbard's husband, Robert Hubbard, passed away in 1992. Mabel Hubbard died on December 9, 2006, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was 69 years old.
The Women's Committee of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association gives out an award each year. It is called the Mabel Hubbard Legacy Award. It honors people who have worked hard to serve their local community.
