Today in Supreme Court History: January 18, 1873

1/18/1873: Bradwell v. Illinois argued.

Comments

[Syd Henderson]

"Myra Bradwell's case in part prompted the Illinois Legislature to adopt a statute in 1872 forbidding sex discrimination in professional licensing. Toward the end of her life, the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court admitted Bradwell to practice law nunc pro tunc, and the year of her admittance was officially, albeit symbolically, 1869."

'nunc pro tunc' means she was admitted retroactively. So she effectively won her case with the legislature while losing it at the Supreme Court.