Lindsey Miller-Lerman Explained

Lindsey Miller-Lerman
Office:Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court
Appointer:Ben Nelson
Term Start:September 1, 1998
Predecessor:Nick Caporale[1]
Birth Name:Lindsey Gale Miller
Birth Date:30 July 1947
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Children:2
Education:Wellesley College (BA)
Columbia University (JD)

Lindsey Gale Miller-Lerman (born July 30, 1947)[2] is a justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Ben Nelson in 1998.[3] She is the first woman to serve on the court.[4] Miller-Lerman was retained in 2014 and 2020; her term expires in 2026.[5] [6]

Early life

Miller-Lerman was born in Los Angeles, California, to father Avy Miller, an engineer who founded Laars-Engineers (which is now called Laars Heating Systems),[7] [8] and Roberta Miller (née Levey).[9]

She received a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Wellesley College in 1968,[10] where she was a classmate of Hillary Clinton.[11] She and Clinton were both political science majors.

After graduating from Wellesley, Miller-Lerman worked at a Cleveland legal aid clinic. She obtained a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 1973 and an Honorary Doctorate from the College of St. Mary in 1993.

Career

From 1973 to 1975, Miller-Lerman clerked for Judge Constance Baker Motley, a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.[12] After this time, Miller-Lerman and her husband moved from New York to Nebraska.

Private practice

In 1976, Miller-Lerman joined the law firm of Kutak Rock & Huie, now Kutak Rock. From 1976 to 1979, Miller-Lerman was an associate; from 1980 to 1992, she was a partner. She was at Kutak Rock until her appointment to the Nebraska Court of Appeals.[13] Miller-Lerman worked part-time as a partner at Kutak Rock while she raised her children.[14] This part-time agreement did not penalize Miller-Lerman's chances for promotion,[15] which Miller-Lerman credited to senior partner Bob Kutak's influence. Her regular schedule was three days a week, but since Miller-Lerman specialized in litigation, her schedule was adjusted when she had cases that went to court.

Judgeship

In 1992, Miller-Lerman was appointed as a judge in the Nebraska Court of Appeals.[16] She was the first woman in the state to serve on a court higher than the district court. After four years on the Nebraska Court of Appeals, Miller-Lerman became Chief Judge, a position she held from 1995 to 1998.

In 1998, Miller-Lerman took office as a Nebraska Supreme Court Judge for District 2, replacing retiring Judge D. Nick Caporale.[17] She was retained in office in 2002 and 2008.

Notable cases

Other

In 1993, Miller-Lerman's name was mentioned as being under consideration in the selection process for United States Attorney General during Bill Clinton's presidency.[19] Senator J. James Exon was one of her supporters.[20] Janet Reno was eventually selected for the position.

Publication

Miller-Lerman has been published in the following journals: Creighton Law Review; Litigation News & Notes; ABA Journal; The National Law Journal; Columbia Law Review; Wisconsin Law Review; Annals of Internal Medicine.

Personal life

Miller-Lerman was a member of the United States 1961 Maccabiah Games swimming team in Israel, where she won two gold medals and one silver medal.

In 1969, Miller-Lerman married Dr. Stephen Lerman. They had 2 children. The marriage ended in divorce.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nebraska Supreme Court Judges, 2013 . 2012–13 Nebraska Blue Book . . 28 March 2015 . 767 . 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130514110949/http://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/759-806.pdf . 14 May 2013 .
  2. Web site: Lindsey Gale Miller – California Birth Index. FamilySearch. 28 March 2015.
  3. News: O'Hanlon. Kevin. Heineman building far-reaching judicial legacy. 27 March 2015. Lincoln Journal Star. 11 August 2013.
  4. News: Mabin. Clarence. Women judges increase in numbers, but barriers might remain. 27 March 2015. Lincoln Journal Star. 30 September 2006.
  5. Web site: Judicial Retention Filings – 2014 Elections – Judicial Candidate List for retention in office. Nebraska Secretary of State. 27 March 2015. 1 August 2014.
  6. Web site: Nebraska Secretary of State - Election Night Results - November 3rd, 2020 . electionresults.nebraska.gov . 9 January 2021.
  7. News: Lindsey G. Miller Will Be Wed To Dr. Stephen James Lerman. 28 March 2015. The New York Times. 9 March 1969. 81.
  8. Web site: Laars celebrates more than 60 years of innovation. Phc News. 28 March 2015. 64–67. March 2009.
  9. Web site: Avy Miller mentioned in the record of Avy Miller and Roberta Lee Levey. FamilySearch. 27 March 2015.
  10. Web site: Walsh. Diana Chapman. Wellesley Graduates. Wellesley College. 27 March 2015. 14–15.
  11. News: Roberst. Kelly. Student's mother a former classmate of Hillary Clinton. 28 March 2015. Central High Register. 6. 24 February 1993. 106. 1.
  12. Gradwohl. Judge Janice L.. Inching Through the Glass Ceiling: The History of the Selection of Women Judges in Nebraska. The Nebraska Lawyer. April 2000. 12–18. 27 March 2015. Nebraska State Bar Association. Lincoln, NE. 9781610271011. 38005680.
  13. Web site: Lindsey Miller-Lerman. Ballotpedia. 28 March 2015.
  14. Miller-Lerman. Lindsey. Should Part-Time Lawyers Stay on the Partnership Track? Merit is More Than Billable Hours. ABA Journal. 1 January 1987. 36. 28 March 2015. American Bar Association. Chicago. 0747-0088. 10269097.
  15. Book: Epstein. Cynthia Fuchs. Women in Law. 1981. 217. 28 March 2015. Basic Books. New York. 978-0-465-09205-5. 8306742.
  16. News: Miller-Lerman. Lindsey. Day O'Connor. Sandra. Spaeth. Nicholas. White. Byron R.. Supreme Court Justices Perspective. 28 March 2015. C-SPAN. 5 August 1993. Video of panel at the Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference.
  17. News: One woman among six applicants for Nebraska Supreme Court post . 28 March 2015. The Grand Island Independent. 23 June 1998.
  18. News: Duggan. Joe. Opponents Vow to Fight: Supreme Court upholds pipeline route law in split decision. 28 March 2015. The Grand Island Independent. World-Herald News Service. 9 January 2015.
  19. News: 2 women interviewed for attorney general. 28 March 2015. The Baltimore Sun. Newsday. 10 February 1993.
  20. News: Lauter. David. Clinton Close to Naming Attorney General : Cabinet: Three women are said to be the main candidates. Officials say an announcement could come as soon as today.. 28 March 2015. Los Angeles Times. 11 February 1993.