Lesley Baran, Regent Suzanne Young, Judge Mary M. Schroeder, and Judy Putnam at Gila Butte Chapter’s annual Spring Fling held at Palo Verde (photo by William Baran)
The Gila Butte Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was very honored and pleased to welcome to their recent meeting the Honorable Judge Mary M. Schroeder. Judge Schroeder is a Senior United States Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit. Chapter historian Judy Putnam presented the Daughters of the American Revolution Women in American History Award to her at the Palo Verde Country Club in Sun Lakes. Over 3,000 women have been recognized with this award since 2004. Its purpose is to emphasize the role and influence of women, past and present, in their communities. It is a national award to recognize women who are or who have been intellectual, educational, social, religious, political, scientific, or cultural innovators. Judge Schroeder was recognized for breaking gender barriers in Phoenix law practices in 1969.
Her accomplishments include: trial attorney U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.; law clerk to Justice Jesse Udall of the Arizona Supreme Court; first woman to achieve law firm partnership in the Rocky Mountain West; first Arizona woman to argue and win a case before the U.S. Supreme Court; and adjunct faculty member of Arizona State University and Duke University.
Judge Schroeder was born in Boulder, Colo. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore College and her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School. She lives in Scottsdale and has two children.
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonprofit, charitable organization, founded in 1890 and incorporated by an act of the United States Congress in 1896. Membership in the society is open to any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. The DAR functions as a volunteer service organization and is dedicated to patriotism, education, and historic preservation. While DAR supports a strong national defense, it is not a political organization, nor does it lobby. Its membership includes women from Republican, Democratic, and Independent political parties; women from all races and ethnic backgrounds; and women from ages 18 to 100-plus. The society does not subscribe to any particular religion, nor does it discriminate against any members who are of various religious beliefs.
For information about joining DAR, contact Pennie Bonnett at [email protected].