Abrahamson's legacy furthers fight for equality, justice.

Byline: Michaela Paukner, mpaukner@wislawjournal.com

Lifetime Achievement Award

If you look up "indefatigable" in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson's name appears among the usage examples.

"That's a good word to begin to set the stage in describing her," said Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who served on the state Supreme Court with Abrahamson for 24 years. "As a friend, she was generous. She was self-sacrificing. She had a great wit and was fun, while at the same time, she was very serious and intense."

Abrahamson, who had battled pancreatic cancer toward the end of her life, died in December, just two days after her 87th birthday. The former chief justice, known for her intellect and work habits, left behind a legacy that continues to shape courts in Wisconsin and throughout the country.

Her career was one of many firsts and milestones, but her achievements didn't come without difficulties. In a 2018 lecture at UW Law School, Abrahamson recalled the obstacles she encountered as a woman starting her legal career in the 1950s. She graduated at the top of her law school class in 1956. But the school dean, who would usually find top students a spot at the largest firm in Indianapolis, said he couldn't place her there.

"I said that was OK because I didn't want to go to Indianapolis, so we were even," she said during that 2018 lecture. "They just didn't want to hire a woman."

Abrahamson went on to carve a path for herself in Wisconsin, and in doing so, paved the way for generations of women lawyers to come. In 1976, she became the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the first female chief justice in 1996. Abrahamson is the longest-serving justice in the state, dedicating 43 years of her career to the high court.

Abrahamson is estimated to have written 530 majority opinions, 490 dissenting opinions and 325 concurring opinions during her time on the bench, according to statistics compiled by Marquette University History professor Alan Ball.

"Her opinions, of course, leave a tremendous legacy for her, but I also want to note that her...