Today’s photo is the Guilford County Courthouse. We wanted to feature Judge Elreta Alexander-Ralston and Courtroom 2A is named for her and her portrait hangs there (reference). However, one does not simply march into a courtroom and start taking pictures! We’ll tell you about Greensboro’s Judge Alexander and promise to post a better photo should we ever get one.

Greensboro’s Judge Elreta Narcissus Melton Alexander-Ralston (1919-1998) was the first African-American woman to graduate from Columbia University Law School (1945). She practiced law in Greensboro from 1947 to 1968, becoming part of the first integrated law firm in the south.  In 1968, she was the first African American woman in the nation elected as a state district court judge. As a judge, she pioneered legal reform, particularly in the way children were held accountable for their crimes. She was known for compassion, fairness, and assigning much community service.  Also, she is remembered for her flamboyant attire and words (read Schlosser’s article here). Judge Alexander retired from the bench in 1981 and became a senior partner in a local law firm (reference here). See a great portrait here. Greensboro is an important city in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and Judge Alexander was a trailblazer! We think it is an oversight that, to date, no Wikipedia entry on Judge Alexander exists! 

Round 9 has begun for ABC Wednesday which means it is time for “A” words around the world. Last round, we featured A-Z streets of Greensboro. This round, we’re hoping to feature people significant to Greensboro. May B-Z people be easier! We’d love to know Judge Alexander would have answered yesterday’s question “What does it mean to be southern?”

Judge Alexander