Patricia Wald facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patricia Wald
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
In office November 8, 1986 – January 19, 1991
Preceded by	Spottswood Robinson
Succeeded by	Abner Mikva
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
In office July 26, 1979 – November 16, 1999
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Thomas Griffith
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs
In office 1977–1979
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Michael Uhlmann
Succeeded by	Robert McConnell
Personal details
Born	Patricia Ann McGowan (1928-09-12)September 12, 1928 Torrington, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	January 12, 2019(2019-01-12) (aged 90) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Connecticut College (BA) Yale University (LLB)

Patricia Ann McGowan Wald (born September 16, 1928 – died January 12, 2019) was an important American judge. She became the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. This court handles many important legal cases in the U.S. capital. She also served as a judge for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Patricia Wald made history as the first woman to be appointed to the D.C. Circuit Court. She was also the first woman to lead that court as Chief Judge. She worked with groups like the American Bar Association to improve justice.

Early Life and Education

Patricia Wald was born in Torrington, Connecticut, on September 16, 1928. She was the only child of Joseph F. McGowan and Margaret O'Keefe. Her father left when she was two years old. Patricia was raised by her mother and other family members. Many of her relatives worked in factories and were active in unions.

Growing up, Patricia had a Roman Catholic upbringing. As a teenager, she worked in brass mills during the summers. Her experiences with the labor movement inspired her. She decided to go to law school to help people who were not as fortunate. She wanted to protect working-class individuals.

Patricia went to St. Francis School and then Torrington High School. She graduated from high school in 1944 as the best student in her class. In 1948, she graduated first in her class from Connecticut College for Women. She received a scholarship that helped her attend college.

She then earned her law degree from Yale Law School in 1951. Only 11 other women graduated with her that year. She paid for law school by working as a waitress and doing research jobs. At Yale, she was an editor for the Yale Law Journal. This was a great honor for a law student.

After law school, she worked for Judge Jerome Frank for a year. She then briefly worked at a law firm. She left this job to raise her five children.

Her Legal Career

After taking time to raise her family, Patricia Wald returned to legal work. She started with part-time consulting and research jobs. She helped write a book called Bail in the United States in 1964. This book helped change the nation's bail system. The bail system decides if people can leave jail before their trial.

President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her to a commission on crime in Washington, D.C. She also worked for the United States Department of Justice. From 1968 to 1970, she was an attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services. Here, she helped people in need get legal help. She also worked for the Mental Health Law Project for five years. This project helped people with mental health issues.

In 1977, she returned to the Department of Justice. She served as Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs. In this role, she helped the government create new laws.

Becoming a Judge

President Jimmy Carter nominated Patricia Wald to be a judge on April 30, 1979. She was to join the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Carter administration wanted more women to become federal judges. The United States Senate approved her nomination on July 24, 1979. She officially became a judge on July 26, 1979.

She served as Chief Judge of the court from 1986 to 1991. Patricia Wald was the first woman appointed to this important court. She was also the first woman to serve as its chief judge. In 1994, she helped new countries in Eastern Europe rebuild their legal systems. This was after the fall of the Soviet Union.

After Being a Judge

After retiring from the federal court, Patricia Wald continued her important work. From 1999 to 2002, she represented the United States at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. This court dealt with serious crimes, including genocide. She presided over cases involving events like the Srebrenica massacre.

In 2004, President Bush appointed her to a special commission. This group investigated U.S. intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. She worked with another judge, Laurence Silberman, on this commission. They had different political views but respected each other.

In 2012, she was confirmed as a member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. This board works to protect people's privacy and rights. She left the board in 2017. She also served on the board of the Open Society Justice Initiative. This group works to promote justice around the world.

Personal Life

Patricia Wald was married to Robert Lewis Wald in 1951. He was also a graduate of Yale Law School. They met while traveling in Europe. Together, they had five children: three daughters and two sons. Their names are Sarah, Doug, Johanna, Frederica, and Thomas. Robert Wald passed away on September 7, 2010. Patricia Wald died in Washington, D.C., on January 12, 2019. She was 90 years old and had pancreatic cancer.

Awards and Recognition

Patricia Wald received many honors and awards during her life. She was given more than 20 honorary degrees. In 2002, she was honored for her work in Human Rights. She also received the Margaret Brent Award. This award recognizes women who achieve excellence in law and inspire others.

In 2004, she received the American Lawyer Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. Four years later, in 2008, she was given the American Bar Association Medal. This is the highest honor from the ABA. In 2011, she was recognized as a Constitutional Champion. On November 20, 2013, Patricia Wald received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States.

See also

• List of first women lawyers and judges in Washington D.C. (Federal District)