Annie Coker

Annie Coker (née Stephens) was California’s first African-American female lawyer.[1]

Coker was born on April 7, 1903 to William Morris (d. 1932) and Pauline Logan Stephens (d. 1929) in Oakland, California.[2] She received her Bachelor of Science degree from University of California, Berkeley, and enrolled in UC Berkeley School of Law. Coker was one of the two female students at her time of enrollment.  She graduated in 1929 and was admitted to the State Bar of California.[3]

Coker practiced law for a time in Alexandria, Virginia.[4][5] By 1939, she returned to California, taking a position at the California Office of Legislative Counsel in Sacramento. She worked there for 25 years until her retirement in 1966.[1]

Coker was married twice.[6][7] She died on February 17, 1986 in Sacramento.[8]

See also

References
  1. Watson, Jonathan. "Legacy of American Female Attorneys (2016 rev.)" (PDF). Solano County Law Library. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  2. Schiesl, Martin (2015-05-06). "Annie Virginia Stephens Coker (1903-1986)". BlackPast. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  3. McCarthy, Nancy (February 2008). "Annie Coker: A pioneer California lawyer". California Bar Journal. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  4. "California Bar Journal". archive.calbar.ca.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  5. Harbin-Forte, Brenda F. (March 26, 2019). "African American women on the California bench: a history". www.callawyer.com. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  6. "Meriam Library Special Collections and University Archives | Meriam Library". library.csuchico.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  7. Smith, John Clay (2000). Rebels in Law: Voices in History of Black Women Lawyers. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472086467.
  8. Beitiks, Kathleen. "Women in the Law: The Early Years" (PDF). State Bar of California: Celebrating 75 Years.
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