WHEREAS,
Juanita Kidd Stout was a woman of many firsts. When elected to Philadelphia's Municipal Court in 1959, she was the first African-American woman in America to be elected to a U.S. court. She was also the first African-American woman to be elected to the Court of Common Pleas and the first African-American woman to serve on a state supreme court; and
WHEREAS,
the late Juanita Kidd Stout exemplified all of the best elements of a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, of a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and of a Philadelphia Lawyer; and
WHEREAS,
Justice Stout selflessly devoted her time, energy and effort to the cause of justice, racial equality and improving the quality of living; and
WHEREAS,
Justice Stout was a mentor for younger attorneys and an example for all lawyers, prompting The Philadelphia Inquirer to state: Education, work, honesty, morality, discipline - these admirable qualities embodied the life and work of Justice Stout; now therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The Criminal Justice Center located at 1301 Filbert street shall be named The Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately.
End