Florence Ellinwood Allen

Florence Ellinwood Allen – Life, Career, and Notable Quotes

A detailed biography of Florence Ellinwood Allen (1884–1966), one of America’s pioneering women judges: her early life, career milestones, advocacy for women’s rights and peace, judicial philosophy, and inspiring quotations.

Introduction

Florence Ellinwood Allen (March 23, 1884 – September 12, 1966) was a trailblazing American jurist who broke numerous legal and gender barriers in the early- to mid-20th century. She became the first woman elected to a state supreme court, and later, the first woman to serve on a federal appellate bench of Article III jurisdiction. In her long career she combined a deep commitment to the rule of law with activism in women’s suffrage and the cause of peace. Allen’s life and work remain an inspiring example for women in law, public service, and social justice.

Early Life and Education

Florence Ellinwood Allen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Clarence Emir Allen Sr. (a mine manager turned U.S. Congressman) and Corinne Marie Tuckerman Allen, on March 23, 1884.

During her childhood the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where her father joined the faculty of Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve).

She attended New Lyme Institute in Ashtabula, Ohio, during her secondary schooling. B.A. in music from Western Reserve University’s women’s college. Germany studying piano, with hopes of a concert career, before returning to the U.S. due to an injury that limited her performance prospects.

Upon returning, she taught, wrote music criticism (for The Cleveland Plain Dealer), and resumed academic study at Western Reserve, obtaining a Master’s in political science in 1908. New York University School of Law, from which she graduated with an LL.B. in 1913 (cum laude).

Early Legal Career & Advocacy

After her admission to the bar, Allen began private practice in Cleveland. Legal Aid Society of Cleveland—this gave her practical courtroom experience and exposure to public interest legal work.

From early in her career, Allen was active in the women’s suffrage movement. She opposed laws that restricted women's political participation, and argued in an Ohio case that secured municipal voting rights for women in East Cleveland.

In 1919, Allen was appointed Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Cuyahoga County, becoming one of the first women in the U.S. to hold such a role. non-partisan candidate and was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County—the first woman in Ohio to be elected to a judgeship.

State Supreme Court & “Firsts”

In 1922, Florence Allen was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court—making her the first woman in U.S. history to serve on a state court of last resort.

While on the Ohio Supreme Court, Allen strove to maintain judicial impartiality and often avoided overt partisanship in her decisions.

Federal Judicial Service

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Allen to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, filling the vacancy left by Judge Smith Hickenlooper.

Allen became the first woman to serve in a federal appellate court under Article III, and only the second woman ever to serve as a federal judge (after Genevieve R. Cline, who served in a specialized court).

She served actively until 1959, including as Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit from 1958 to 1959. senior status (a form of semi-retirement), continuing to hear some cases.

Advocacy, Philosophy & Public Work

Women’s Rights and Leadership

Throughout her judicial career, Allen remained vocal about advancing women’s roles in law and politics. She was a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers and spoke at conventions of the National Association of Business and Professional Women.

She frequently encouraged women to pursue law, public office, and civic engagement.

Pacifism & Peace Advocacy

The death of two of her brothers during World War I deeply influenced Allen’s lifelong commitment to peace. Why Wars Must Cease (1935), urging prevention of war by strengthening moral principle, global justice, and international law.

After WWII, she continued speaking on peace, international justice, and the role of citizen conscience in international affairs. She argued that peace cannot rest solely on treaties, but on the moral engagement of peoples and nations.

Judicial Approach & Philosophy

Allen believed in judicial modesty, rule of law, and fairness. She tried to maintain independence from party politics and sought decisions grounded in legal reasoning, not pressure or ideology.

She also lectured and wrote on constitutional law (e.g. This Constitution of Ours) and participated in professional legal organizations.

Legacy & Honors

• In 2005, Allen was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

• She remains celebrated as a foundational figure in the advancement of women in the judiciary, often cited in histories of women’s legal progress.

• Her papers and personal archives are held in several institutions (e.g. Schlesinger Library at Harvard, Smith College, Western Reserve historical archives).

Her career highlighted that women could serve at the highest judicial levels with integrity, judgment, and influence—opening doors for succeeding generations.

Selected Quotes

While Allen is less known for pithy aphorisms, the following excerpts reflect her values and voice:

“I had no clients. And I had no money. But I had great hopes.”
— Recalled from early days of her practice.

“To secure peace, there must be justice … There cannot be justice unless there is a rebirth of moral principle among the nations.”
— Addressing a national conference of business and professional women.

“[War] unleashes demoralizing instincts such as callousness, cynicism, and greed.”
— From her essay contribution to Why Wars Must Cease.

Lessons and Relevance Today

1. Persistence in the face of prejudice
   Allen’s journey shows how resilience and excellence can challenge entrenched gender norms in law and public life.

2. Public duty beyond the bench
   Her advocacy for women’s rights and global peace demonstrates how judges and jurists can be voices for moral causes without compromising judicial integrity.

3. Modesty and principle in power
   She strove to keep decisions rooted in law rather than politics—a valuable aspiration in any era.

4. Bridge between law and conscience
   Her belief that justice and peace require moral renewal remains relevant in debates over law, human rights, and international conflict.

Conclusion

Florence Ellinwood Allen was a pioneering jurist whose life transcended conventional boundaries. From humble beginnings and musical ambitions, she transformed into a formidable legal mind and public figure. She became the first woman on a state supreme court, the first woman to serve on a U.S. federal appellate court, and used her platform to advocate for women and peace.

Her legacy is not just in her judicial decisions, but in the doors she opened, the lives she inspired, and the moral voice she sustained.