Written by: Andrea Giacomini
Artwork by: Sheryl Fong
Birdie Amsterdam was one of many strong and admirable women to tread the path, one that is still being walked, towards equality of the sexes. Because she was a woman of many firsts in the legal profession, Amsterdam was often referred to as the “First lady of the judiciary.” Amsterdam was the first woman to sit on the Municipal Court in New York County; she was elected in 1940 and served until 1954. In 1954, she became the first female judge of the City Court, and in 1955 she won a full term. In 1958, seventy-two years after the first woman was admitted to the New York State judicial bar, Birdie Amsterdam became the first woman elected to the New York State Supreme Court. She served two terms as an active Democrat and retired in 1975 after 35 years of judicial service. Notably, despite being a Democratic liberal, she was supported by all three political parties during her service on the Supreme Court. Additionally, in 1960 “Who’s Who of American Women” named her outstanding woman of the year in the legal field for her inspirational achievements, which would encourage current and future generations of women in her field.
Amsterdam was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1901 to a first- generation Jewish family, and she was the second of six children who all went on to have professional careers. When she was only 17, she graduated from Hunter College High School with a state scholarship. While waiting to meet the age requirement to enroll in university, she attended City College for a year and studied economics, banking, and accounting. The next year, she began to earn her degree at New York University Law School, where she took evening classes while also holding a full-time bookkeeping job at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Amsterdam attributed her passion for justice and social issues to her life experiences as a poor Jewish immigrant growing up on the Lower East Side. Amsterdam was particularly concerned with medical care and other resources for the poor and disadvantaged, such as summer camps, tuition assistance, and housing options for the aged and handicapped. For the entirety of her life and legal service, Amsterdam was passionate about and dedicated to the advancement and participation of women in the legal profession.
It is not easy to be the first, especially not the first woman. The pressure to succeed and the expectation of failure constantly loomed overhead, accompanied of course by the everyday reminders that she was the only woman, that she was a woman. It must have been frustrating to be publicly recognized in her career not for her success and skill alone, but for her achievements in spite of her sex. In addition to her many firsts, Birdie Amsterdam was a talented and just judge. She was committed to helping the disadvantaged, and she was successful and popular during her 35 years of service. Any woman who aspires to a judicial career owes gratitude to her, to the one that trailed the path that they will walk behind.
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