Genevieve R. Cline

Genevieve R. Cline
Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office May 26, 1928 – March 1, 1953
Appointed by	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	William C. Adamson
Succeeded by	Mary H. Donlon
Personal details
Born	Genevieve Rose Cline (1877-07-27)July 27, 1877 Warren, Ohio
Died	October 25, 1959(1959-10-25) (aged 80) Cleveland, Ohio
Education	Baldwin Wallace College (LL.B.)

Genevieve Rose Cline (July 27, 1877 – October 25, 1959) was a judge of the United States Customs Court and the first woman to serve in the United States federal judiciary, serving as an Article I federal judge.

Born on July 27, 1877, in Warren, Ohio,^[1] Cline was the daughter of Edward B. Cline and Mary A. (Fee) Cline. She graduated from Warren High School and attended Cleveland's Spencerian Business College. She later attended Oberlin College, then transferred to Baldwin Wallace College, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 1921.^[1] During the 1910s, Cline served as President of the Cleveland Federation of Women's Clubs for six years, and was Chairman of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs for two years.^[2] She entered private practice in Cleveland, Ohio from 1921 to 1928.^[1] She was an appraiser of merchandise for the United States Department of the Treasury in Cleveland from 1922 to 1928,^[1] becoming the first women to hold such a post.^[2]

Cline was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on May 4, 1928, to an Associate Justice seat (Judge from June 17, 1930) on the United States Customs Court vacated by Associate Justice William C. Adamson.^[3] She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 25, 1928, and received her commission on May 26, 1928.^[1] She took her oath of office in the Cleveland Federal Building on June 5, 1928,^[4] becoming the first American woman ever appointed to the federal bench, serving as an Article I federal judge.^[5] Her service terminated on March 1, 1953, due to her retirement.^[1] She was succeeded by Judge Mary H. Donlon.^[1]

Cline died on October 25, 1959, in Cleveland.^[1]

A painting of Cline is included in a group mural at the Student Services area of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.^[6]

• "Erie County Federation." Sandusky (OH) Star-Journal, June 22, 1921, p. 4.
• "Genevieve Cline Opposed for Customs Judge." Portsmouth (OH) Daily Times, May 16, 1928, p. 5.
• Norma H. Goodhue. "No Gender in Law, Says Woman Judge." Los Angeles Times, April 17, 1949, p. C1.
• "Legal Profession." San Antonio (TX) Light, March 12, 1933, p. 27.
• Kathleen McLaughlin. "Senior Woman Federal Judge Authority on Customs Cases." New York Times, January 28, 1940, p. D6.
• "Mme. Walska Wins Fight for Rights of Wives." New York Times, January 17, 1930, p. 1.
• "Ocean Travelers." New York Times, December 20, 1940, p. 31.
• "Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs." Sandusky (OH) Star-Journal, May 8, 1920, p. 8.
• Patricia Rood. "Important Legislation." Sandusky (OH) Star-Journal, March 3, 1917, p. 5.
• Patricia Rood. "The Northeast District Meetings." Sandusky (OH) Star-Journal, February 24, 1917, p. 8.
• "What Ohio Club Women Are Doing." Newark (OH) Daily Advocate, December 9, 1916, p. 5.
• "Woman Federal Judge to Hear Walska Women's Rights Case." New York Times, October 31, 1928, p. 7.
• "Woman Takes Oath as Customs Judge." New York Times, June 7, 1928, p. 28.
• "Women Leaders Will Speak Here." Sandusky (OH) Star-Journal, April 12, 1920, p. 8.

• Encyclopedia of Baldwin Wallace History: Genevieve Cline

• Genevieve Rose Cline at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.