AFJ Statement on Judge Patricia Wald

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 12, 2019 – Following the announcement of the death of Judge Patricia Wald, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the first woman chief judge on the D.C. Circuit, AFJ President Nan Aron released the following statement:

“Judge Pat Wald was a dear friend and a trailblazer throughout her remarkable career, but she was also more than that: a mentor to so many young lawyers who looked up to her, an advocate for the rights of children at a time when the concept was new, a lifelong champion for human rights and a person who believed in her heart that the law should be an instrument for bettering the lives of everyday people. This woman of vast accomplishments was also a beloved and dedicated parent and grandparent, and will always be remembered as one of the women who opened the door to so many opportunities for women today.”