Since the first woman graduated from UW Law School in 1885, generations of lawyers have been prepared by the university to serve not only as legal advocates but as stewards of justice. The judges featured here built careers defined by reason, courage, and an unwavering commitment to fairness. From state and tribal courts to one of the nation’s oldest supreme courts, they have interpreted laws, strengthened legal institutions, and expanded representation within the judiciary.
Vel Phillips LLB’51
Vel Phillips was the first Black woman to graduate from University of Wisconsin Law School and among the first Black women to practice law in Wisconsin. After beginning her career in Milwaukee, she became a pioneering public servant, working on the Milwaukee Common Council before her 1971 appointment as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge — the first Black judge in Wisconsin. Her legal and civic work focused on fair housing, civil rights, and equal opportunity. Phillips later served as Wisconsin’s secretary of state, and in 2024, a statue of her became the first outdoor sculpture of an African American woman on the grounds of a U.S. state capitol.
Geraldine Hines JD’71
Geraldine Hines built a distinguished judicial career grounded in doing the right thing, not necessarily the popular thing. While at the UW, she aspired to become a civil rights attorney, and after graduation, she moved to Massachusetts to pursue that work. Throughout her career, Hines worked in legal aid, defended clients facing major felonies, litigated cases of police misconduct and employment discrimination, and participated in international human rights legal organizations. In 2001, after 30 years of practice, Hines was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court, and in 2013, she became the first Black woman to serve as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
JoAnn Jones ’82, MS’83, JD’86
JoAnne Jones, a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation, has dedicated her career to strengthening tribal governance and justice systems. After earning degrees in political science and social work, she completed her law degree and returned to the Black River Falls area to serve her community. Jones has worked extensively in tribal law, including serving as a judge for the Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court. She was also the first woman elected president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, where she helped guide the development of tribal legal institutions, expand the Ho-Chunk language preservation office, and establish a Peacemakers Court.
Kashoua Kristy Yang JD’09
When Kashoua Kristy Yang was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2017, she became the first Hmong American judge in Wisconsin. Born in a Thai refugee camp, Yang and her family moved to Sheboygan when she was a child. After witnessing injustice in the health care system, she enrolled in law school to pursue a career in family law, worker’s compensation, social security, and disability law. After eight years in practice, she ran for office and became Wisconsin’s first elected Asian American judge.
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