# Susanne C. Sedgwick *Minnesota lawyer and judge (1931–1988)* Susanne C. Sedgwick, born June 10, 1931, and dead on April 8, 1988, practised as a legal aid attorney in [[Minnesota]] and later held judicial office there.[^1] Her cached Wikipedia biography records several firsts for a woman. She was the first woman to serve as an Assistant [[Hennepin County Attorney]] and the first woman judge of the [[Hennepin County District Court]]. She was the second woman to sit as a municipal court judge in the state. She was among the earliest judges named to the newly established [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]]. She was also in contention to become the first woman on Minnesota's federal district court and on the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]].[^1] ## Biography She was born Susanne Carroll in [[Minneapolis]] on June 10, 1931.[^1] Her parents' alcoholism led to periods in foster care, and her father went on to help found and direct the Hazelton Clinic.[^1] She took her undergraduate degree at the [[University of Minnesota]] and completed law studies at [[William Mitchell College of Law]] in 1956.[^1] While still a law student she married a banker, and her daughter was born over a Christmas break. She was admitted to the bar shortly before her son was born, and she had two further children.[^1] She backed *Roe v. Wade* and was elected coordinator of the bipartisan [[Minnesota Women's Political Caucus]].[^1] ## Career Douglas Amdahl had taught her in law school, and the source associates him with the District Court. He urged her to volunteer with the legal aid society, where chief staff attorney Harlan Smith soon took her on.[^1] After three and a half years in legal aid, she joined the Hennepin County Attorney's office as its first woman assistant, working on juvenile delinquency and child custody matters.[^1] In 1970, aged 39, she challenged Herbert Estrem, a 68-year-old incumbent on the municipal court. The source calls such a challenge highly unusual and notes that no sitting judge had lost since 1959.[^1] A poll of Hennepin County Bar members favored her over Estrem, 795 to 647. According to the source, Estrem lacked backing among younger lawyers and declined to debate her or to join her at a public question session.[^1] Sedgwick objected to the bar ballot's bloc-voting format, which encouraged lawyers to endorse every incumbent judge together. She said that many lawyers had sent back their ballots before learning of her candidacy.[^1] Her 180 public backers included state public defender Robert Oliphant, a frequent practitioner in municipal court.[^1] She defeated Estrem 85,164 to 63,745 and joined the Minneapolis Municipal Court. On taking the bench she was the sole woman serving as a judge in Minnesota.[^1] As chair of the Hennepin County Bar Association's family law committee, she took part in drafting the legislation that set up a family law division within the Hennepin County District Court.[^1] Students at William Mitchell had written to the Governor in large numbers asking him to appoint women. In 1974 Governor Wendell Anderson named her head of the Family Division of the Fourth Judicial District Court, succeeding Judge Paul Lommen.[^1] Governor [[Al Quie]] also named her an honorary chairperson, but the cached source text breaks off before naming the body.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Born Susanne Carroll; known professionally as Susanne C. Sedgwick, a Minnesota legal aid lawyer, assistant county attorney and judge.[^1] ### What - Won a 1970 Minneapolis Municipal Court seat over incumbent Herbert Estrem, 85,164 to 63,745, after a Hennepin County Bar poll of 795 to 647 in her favor.[^1] - Appointed head of the Family Division of the Fourth Judicial District Court by Governor Wendell Anderson.[^1] ### When - Born June 10, 1931; died April 8, 1988.[^1] - Law degree, William Mitchell College of Law, 1956.[^1] - Municipal court election, 1970.[^1] - Family Division appointment, 1974.[^1] ### Where - Born in Minneapolis; served on the Minneapolis Municipal Court and the Hennepin County District Court.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Susanne C. Sedgwick* (revision 1378414819, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth, education, family, legal aid and county attorney service, 1970 election figures, 1974 appointment, and judicial firsts; CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanne_C._Sedgwick