Remembrances are coming in for former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson.
Abrahamson passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020 due to pancreatic cancer. She was 87.
Abrahamson served on the state’s highest court from 1976 to 2019, serving as its Chief Justice from 1996 to 2015. Her 43 years on the bench remains the longest time for any justice in Wisconsin history.
Justice Rebecca Dallet:
She epitomized leadership and strong Wisconsin values, and upheld the law with a passion for justice.
— Justice Rebecca Dallet (@justicedallet) December 21, 2020
Shirley swore me in when I first became a circuit court judge, and then I was honored to serve alongside her on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. /2 pic.twitter.com/dcwgQXE8mk
Justice Jill Karofsky:
I am so saddened by the loss of an icon. Justice Shirley Abrahamson was a trailblazer in every sense of the word.
— Justice Jill Karofsky (@judgekarofsky) December 20, 2020
I am eternally grateful for the path she helped pave for women like me.
Rest In Peace Justice Shirley. You will missed. https://t.co/Mj191Hj60G
Senator Tammy Baldwin:
Shirley Abrahamson broke barriers and served the people on the Supreme Court with a Wisconsin work ethic as an independent, fair and impartial justice. Wisconsin honors the life of a true public servant who did so much for our state and whose legacy continues to inspire so many. https://t.co/0MRm41xTZt
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) December 20, 2020
Governor Tony Evers:
“Kathy and I were devastated this morning to learn of Chief Justice Abrahamson’s passing. Chief Justice Abrahamson was a first—the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the first woman to serve as chief justice. Yet, her legacy is defined not just by being a first, but her life’s work of ensuring she would not be the last, paving and lighting the way for the many women and others who would come after her.
Serving more than 40 years on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and writing more than 1,300 opinions, few others have given so much of themselves to the cause of public service in Wisconsin. Chief Justice Abrahamson was a meticulous jurist and a profound writer who believed in an independent judiciary. But she was also a champion for a more fair, more equitable state and country, and to that end, worked to hold our laws to account.
She has had a larger-than-life impact on the legal profession in Wisconsin and our state’s and country’s jurisprudence. She was a pillar of our state and the court for generations. We have missed her greatly on the court, and we will miss her greatly in this life. We are thinking of Chief Justice Abrahamson’s family and friends, and we join the people of Wisconsin in mourning the loss of one of our state’s most extraordinary public servants and honoring her legacy.”
Attorney General Josh Kaul:
“I was saddened to learn today of the passing of a truly remarkable person and towering figure in American law, former Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.
“You didn’t have to know Chief Justice Abrahamson to know that she was brilliant, worked famously long hours in service to the people of Wisconsin, and was dedicated to fairness and justice. You just had to read her opinions.
“Through those hundreds and hundreds of opinions, Chief Justice Abrahamson shaped our understanding of the law for the better. Those opinions will have an impact for decades to come, as courts look to them for guidance and wisdom in resolving legal issues that have yet to arise.
“Chief Justice Abrahamson’s groundbreaking career helped open doors and has been a source of inspiration for countless people. And she showed that the law, and the jurists who interpret it, can be accessible.
“Our state government, our legal system, and Wisconsinites have all benefited greatly from Chief Justice Abrahamson’s more than four decades of distinguished service on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.”
Former Governor Jim Doyle: (his father hired Abrahamson to a law firm prior to her time on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.)
“Jessica and I and our whole family have lost a dear lifetime friend. My father hired her at a time when law firms weren’t hiring women; she became the firm’s first woman attorney. Nationally regarded as one of the country’s greatest judges, she was widely recognized for her great intelligence, sharp writing, and keen sense of justice. She was a champion of civil rights and civil liberties, and worked to advance principles of equality, transparency, and openness. She demystified the court and brought it directly to the people of Wisconsin, holding hearings around the state and inviting students into the courtroom to learn. She was a mentor for generations of lawyers — including me — but in particular, for women. You wouldn’t find a woman in Wisconsin who became a lawyer from 1970 on who wouldn’t say Shirley Abrahamson wasn’t part of their inspiration. And in addition, she was just a warm, loyal, extremely funny, and caring friend. We will miss her.”