Stout, Juanita Kidd (1919–1998)
Stout, Juanita Kidd (1919–1998)
African-American judge. Name variations: J. K. Stout. Born 1919 in Wewoka, OK; died Aug 21, 1998, in Philadelphia, PA; received bachelor's degree from University of Iowa and studied law at Indiana University; m. Charles Otis Stout (died 1988).
The 1st black woman to serve as judge in Pennsylvania, began career as a music teacher in Oklahoma; established a law practice in Philadelphia (1954); appointed to District Attorney's office (1956); appointed to the Philadelphia Municipal Court (1959), and 2 months later became the 1st black woman in the nation to win election to a court of record; appointed to Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; received an interim appointment to Pennsylvania Supreme Court (1988), the 1st black woman in the nation to be a judge on a state's highest court; held that position until mandatory retirement age of 70, then returned to the bench in Philadelpha.