Emma Fall Schofield was a pioneer in the law. She was born on July 8, 1885, in Malden, Massachusetts. Her parents were both lawyers who met in law school. And Emma’s mother was the first female lawyer in Massachusetts to argue a case before a jury and to plead a case before the Supreme Court. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Like her mother, Emma was highly educated - - graduating from Boston University Law School in 1908. And she spent her legal career breaking down barriers and paving the way for other women. In 1922, she was the first woman in Massachusetts appointed to be Commissioner on the Industrial Accident Board. In 1927 she became the first woman in New England to serve as assistant attorney general. In December 1930, she was appointed associate justice of the District Court of Eastern Middlesex, Malden. She and Judge Sadie Lipner Shulman shared the honor of being the first woman justice appointed in New England. She served as a distinguished justice for 27 years before retiring. Protecting and preserving the rights of the citizens of the Commonwealth. In 2022, Mass ABOTA founded this award to recognize district court judges who embody the spirit and legacy of Emma Fall Schoefield.

Emma Fall Schofield Judicial Award Chronology

2025 - Hon. Jennifer L. Ginsburg
2022 - Debra A. DelVecchio