Honoring Women Changemakers in the Courtroom and Community

Public Defender reflects on the legacy of pioneering women attorneys like Clara Foltz

Mar. 18, 2026 at 9:03am

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As the elected Public Defender for the Second Judicial Circuit, Jessica Yeary reflects on the pioneering work of women attorneys like Clara Foltz, who fought for equal rights and established the first public defender's office decades before the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright Supreme Court decision. Yeary highlights the ongoing gender imbalance in the criminal justice system and celebrates the women changemakers in her community who are working to reform the system through initiatives like restorative justice and reentry programs.

Why it matters

This story shines a light on the often overlooked contributions of women in the legal and criminal justice fields, and how their trailblazing efforts paved the way for the modern public defender system. It also underscores the continued need for greater gender diversity and representation among decision-makers in the criminal justice system.

The details

Clara Shortridge Foltz was a pioneering attorney in California who fought for women's rights and established the first public defender's office, years before the Gideon v. Wainwright Supreme Court decision affirmed the right to counsel. Despite facing immense obstacles as a woman in the legal profession, Foltz became the first woman attorney in California and the first woman district attorney. She recognized the power imbalance between prosecutors and unrepresented defendants, and worked to establish indigent legal defense organizations.

  • In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Gideon v. Wainwright, establishing the right to counsel for those who cannot afford a lawyer.
  • Decades before Gideon, Clara Foltz fought for equal rights and established the first public defender's office in Los Angeles County.

The players

Clara Shortridge Foltz

A pioneering attorney in California who fought for women's rights and established the first public defender's office, years before the Gideon v. Wainwright Supreme Court decision affirmed the right to counsel.

Jessica Yeary

The elected Public Defender for the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida, who is proud to carry on the legacy of trailblazing women like Clara Foltz.

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What they’re saying

“As your elected Public Defender for the Second Judicial Circuit, I am proud to walk a path paved by women like Clara Foltz.”

— Jessica Yeary, Public Defender, Second Judicial Circuit of Florida

The takeaway

This story highlights the vital role that women have played in shaping the criminal justice system, from establishing the right to counsel to pioneering innovative approaches like restorative justice. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to elevate the voices and experiences of women in the legal field and throughout the criminal justice system.