History: The Women in Law Trailblazer Award (formerly, The Ernestine Stahlhut Award) was originally created in honor of Ernestine Stahlhut, who was working as a secretary in a law office when she decided to study law. She was admitted to the California Bar in 1933 and entered private practice. In 1942, she became Assistant Secretary to the California State Bar Association in charge of the Los Angeles office, the first woman to hold that position. She was appointed to the Municipal Court by Governor Earl Warren in 1953 and was named Presiding Judge of that Court in 1964. She died in that office. Judge Kathleen Parker and Evelyn Whitlow proposed the Award, which has been bestowed by the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles in Judge Stahlhut’s memory since 1965.

Award Criteria: The Women in Law Trailblazer Award is given annually to a woman of the legal profession who has attained the respect, admiration, and affection of the Bench and Bar by her outstanding character, her dedication to service, and her significant contributions to the cause of justice; a person who has challenged women in our profession to excel, and who has served as an inspiration to young women to seek a profession in the law. It recognizes exceptional women lawyers, their achievements, and the trails they have blazed for those women who have followed.