Phyllis A. Kravitch

Phyllis Adele Kravitch
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
In office December 31, 1996 – June 15, 2017
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
In office October 1, 1981 – December 31, 1996
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Frank M. Hull
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In office March 23, 1979 – October 1, 1981
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Lewis Render Morgan
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Phyllis Adele Kravitch (1920-08-23)August 23, 1920 Savannah, Georgia
Died	June 15, 2017(2017-06-15) (aged 96) Atlanta, Georgia
Education	Armstrong State University (AA) Goucher College (BA) University of Pennsylvania Law School (LLB)

Phyllis Adele Kravitch (August 23, 1920 – June 15, 2017) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and later the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia.

Education and career

Kravitch was born in Savannah, Georgia, one of four daughters of Aaron Kravitch, an attorney, and Ella B. Wiseman, and was Jewish.[1][2][3] She attended Armstrong Junior College in Savannah receiving an Associate of Arts degree in 1939. She later obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Goucher College in 1941.[4] She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1943, her father Aaron's alma mater (Law 1917).[5][2] At the University of Pennsylvania she served on the Law Review Board of Editors. She was in private practice from 1944 to 1976 and then served from 1977 to 1979 as a judge of the Superior Court of the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia.[6][7]

Federal judicial service

Kravitch was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on January 19, 1979, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated by Judge Lewis Render Morgan. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 21, 1979, and received her commission on March 23, 1979, becoming the third woman to serve as a United States Circuit Judge.[8][9][10] Her service terminated on October 1, 1981, due to reassignment.[7]

Kravitch was reassigned by operation of law on October 1, 1981, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, to a new seat authorized by 94 Stat. 1994.[7] She assumed senior status on December 31, 1996.[11][12] Her service terminated on June 15, 2017, due to her death at the Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.[13]

Feeder judge

Four of Kravitch's law clerks went on to clerk at the United States Supreme Court, including Steven L. Chanenson, Beth Brinkmann, Joseph L. Hoffmann and Paul H. Schwartz.

Later years and death

Kravitch assumed senior status on December 31, 1996.[11][12] On June 15, 2017, Kravitch died at the age of 96 at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.[13][14]

See also

• List of Jewish American jurists

References

1. Rankin, Bill. "Phyllis Kravitch, trailblazing jurist in Georgia, dies at 96". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
2. "Our Newest Acquisition" (PDF). The Law Alumni Journal, University of Pennsylvania Law School. XII (2): 4. Spring 1977. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
3. Averitt, Jack N. (2009). Families of Southeastern Georgia. Genealogical Publishing. p. 177. ISBN 978-0806350998. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
4. "Entry for Kravitch, Phyllis A." Women's Legal History. Stanford Law School. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
5. Bonett, Jennifer Baldino. "A Women's Place is on the Bench". University of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
6. Entry for Phyllis Kravitch Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, Findlaw Attorney Directory. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
7. "Kravitch, Phyllis A. - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
8. Weatherford, Doris (2012). Women in American Politics: History and Milestones. Sage Publishing. p. 373. ISBN 978-1608710072. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
9. Poole, Sheila M. (June 14, 2012). "Carter honored for appointing women, African Americans to the federal bench". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
10. Poole, Sheila (March 20, 2017). "Jewish women honor John Lewis, Hillary Clinton in Atlanta". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
11. "United States Courts" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
12. Rankin, Bill (December 1, 2011). "Court appears ready to hand legal victory to transgender woman". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
13. "Judge Phyllis Kravitch dies, recalled as small in stature with giant reputation" Archived 2020-08-12 at the Wayback Machine. Savannah Now.com, June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
14. Slotnik, Daniel E. (22 June 2017). "Phyllis Kravitch, Judge Who Opened Doors for Herself, Dies at 96". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2018-09-14.

External links

• Oral History of Phyllis A. Kravitch, conducted by Anne Emanuel, Laurie Kotz, July–August 2013. Senior Lawyers Division, American Bar Association.
• Phyllis A. Kravitch at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Lewis Render Morgan	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 1979–1981	Succeeded by Seat abolished
Preceded by Seat established	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1981–1996	Succeeded by Frank M. Hull