Judge Lenore Nesbitt

 By John R. Byrne

We probably should have featured Judge Nesbitt's portrait back in March when it was Women's History Month--but better late than never. 

Judge Nesbitt was certainly a trailblazer. A few milestones worth noting:

She was the first woman appointed to the federal bench in the Southern District of Florida.

She graduated first in her class at University of Miami law school in 1957, where she was the only woman in the class. 

And yet, when she applied to law firms after graduation, she was only offered a secretarial job. She pressed on, practicing law with her husband, Joseph Nesbitt, before becoming a state trial court judge in 1975 and then a federal judge in 1983.

FBA write up below:

Judge Lenore Nesbitt was nominated to the district court in 1983 by President Reagan. Judge Nesbitt graduated first in her class at the University of Miami School of Law in 1957. While on the state bench, Judge Nesbitt presided over the trial of the police officers charged with the beating death of Arthur McDuffie and coverup of the same. She moved the trial to Tampa, due to the volatile atmosphere in Miami, which Judge Nesbitt described as a “time bomb”; the acquittal of the officers nonetheless sparked protests and riots through our city. Described by Judge Davis as the “true first lady of the court,” Judge Nesbitt was the first female judge appointed to the bench in this district. She served on the bench until 2001.