Jane Bolin is sworn in as a judge of New York City's domestic relations court, the first Black woman judge in the United States.
At a Glance
- Date
- 22 July 1939
- Location
- New York, New York
- Key people
- Jane Bolin
- Category
- Law & Justice
- Source
- Appointment records (1939) · Britannica
What It Meant Then
She broke a barrier in the American judiciary that had stood since its founding.
What It Means Now
Bolin served on the bench for four decades.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Jane Bolin Becomes the First Black Woman Judge.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/jane-bolin-becomes-the-first-black-woman-judge/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Jane Bolin Becomes the First Black Woman Judge. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/jane-bolin-becomes-the-first-black-woman-judge/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Jane Bolin Becomes the First Black Woman Judge.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/jane-bolin-becomes-the-first-black-woman-judge/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.