Profile America - Jane Bolin

WASHINGTON - Jane Bolin was the first African-American woman to be appointed as a judge in the U.S.  She was sworn in to a 10 year term on New York City's domestic relations court in 1939.  During her tenure, she made several major changes. Probation officers were assigned to cases without regard to race or religion.  And child care agencies receiving public funds had to accept children without regard to their ethnic background. After she retired, she volunteered as a tutor in math and reading for children in the New York City school system.  Today, women comprise a majority of workers in law occupations, while 7 percent are African-American. Nearly 9 percent of New York's state court judges are black.