Joyce Hens Green a trailblazing judge who made her mark on Washingtons legal landscape‚ passed away on Oct 10‚ 2024 at the age of 95. Her journey from one of six women in her law school class to a respected federal judge spanned over seven decades
Greens career began in the early 1950s when female lawyers were a rarity. She recalled her first cellblock visit where marshals shouted “Here comes your lady lawyer!“ – a testament to the gender bias she faced. Despite these challenges Green persevered and eventually served on the DC Superior Court for more than 10 years
In 1979 Jimmy Carter nominated Green to the US District Court in Washington. She became only the third woman to serve on this bench. During her tenure Green made several notable rulings: she ordered the DC Superior Court to include blind people in juries‚ ruled that the District had failed to provide adequate health care to Latino prisoners and even resolved a union dispute that threatened to keep Washington Redskins players off the field
Greens most significant contributions came later in her career. She played a crucial role in the early legal battles surrounding the US military prison at Guantánamo Bay Cuba. In 2005 – nearly two decades ago – she extended basic legal rights to detainees‚ ruling that they had a constitutional right to due process. This decision was seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate about detainee rights
Although this nation unquestionably must take strong action under the leadership of the Commander in Chief to protect itself against enormous and unprecedented threats‚ that necessity cannot negate the existence of the most basic fundamental rights for which the people of this country have fought and died for well over two hundred years
Throughout her career‚ Green mentored many women lawyers and judges. She was known for her incisive rulings and welcoming demeanor on the bench. Her legacy continues to inspire those in the legal profession‚ particularly women who followed in her footsteps