In honor of Women’s History Month we are pleased to honor the accomplishments and life of Phi Alpha Delta’s first African American, woman initiate – Retired Justice Peggy A. Quince.
Justice Quince joined Phi Alpha Delta’s Cardozo Chapter of The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law on November 1, 1972. Though the membership’s gender restriction was lifted in 1970, P.A.D. did not see an influx of women members until the Phi Delta Delta merger in 1972. While Justice Quince did not join through that merger, she joined as a law student and was one of the first 25 women to join P.A.D. overall.
In 1974 she attended P.A.D.’s Biennial Convention as a law student and almost 40 years later was named the recipient of the Barbara Jordan Award in 2010. The Barbara Jordan Award is one of P.A.D.’s highest honors as it recognizes a P.A.D. member for their lifetime commitment and contributions to the “rule of law” and the judicial system, in keeping with the spirit of our departed sister U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. She has remained a proud member of P.A.D. through retirement.
In her career, Justice Quince was the 79th Justice of the Florida Supreme Court and served on that court from 1999 to 2019. From 2008 to 2010 she served as the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, the first African American woman to lead a branch of Florida government.
Her career reflects Phi Alpha Delta’s ideals of public and community service and embodies the values P.A.D. holds dear. For more information about our P.A.D. Sister’s accomplishments and legacy, please visit tinyurl.com/JusticeQuince
Phi Alpha Delta is the world’s preeminent law fraternity because of our dedication to service: service to the student, the school, the profession, and the community.
It is through devotion to the ideals of compassion, courage, diversity, innovation, integrity, professionalism, and service that we better both our profession and our community. Through accepting our differences we become not just a law fraternity, but a family.
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