Ann Aldrich

Senior United States District Judge Ann Aldrich, the first female appointed to the federal district court in Ohio, passed away last evening. She was 82 years old. Judge Aldrich served on the federal bench for 30 years, after her appointment by President Carter in 1980. Prior to her service on the federal bench, she was a professor of law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law from 1968 until 1980. She was the first female professor to receive tenure at the law school. There, she developed one of the first clinical courses in environmental law in the country and was also responsible for the law school's efforts to recruit minority students. In the 1960's, Judge Aldrich practiced civil and criminal law in Washington D.C., Connecticut and New York. During this time, she argued one of the most important cases of her private career, United Church of Christ v. F.C.C., a landmark civil rights case originating out of Jackson, Mississippi. Prior to entering private practice, Judge Aldrich served as a staff attorney for the General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission, a position which led to her servicing as a United States delegate to the International Telecommunications Union Conference in 1959, and again in 1979. Judge Aldrich was born on June 28, 1927 in Rhode Island. After surviving the great hurricane of 1938, she attended Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine and Barnard College. She went on to study law at New York University School of Law, where she was the only full-time female student in her class. She graduated at the top of her class and later earned a master's degree in international law and a doctor of juridical science degree from NYU. Aldrich is survived by her four sons, James Mooney Cynthia of Portland, OR; Allen Mooney Karen Baskin of Berkley, CA; Martin Aldrich Lisa of Lakewood, OH; and William Aldrich , who resides in Connecticut. She is also survived by eight grandchildren. Memorial service will be held Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 11am, in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Hts., OH 44106. The family suggests that donations be made to the Judge Ann Aldrich Endowed Scholarship Fund at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law; 2121 Euclid Ave., LB38, Cleveland, OH 44115. Please visit www.csuohio.edu/offices/advancement/donate or call 216 687-2491 to donate. BROWN-FORWARD SERVICE 216 752-1200


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