Anderson used her status as a Supreme Court-admitted attorney to advocate for the rights and economic mobility of Southern sharecroppers. She lobbied for the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, which helped sharecroppers and tenant farmers obtain low-interest loans. It was signed into law in 1937. /end

Anderson won these sponsorships thanks to a stellar career as a defense lawyer and later Chicago city prosecutor. She also used her legal skills to fight for civil rights, taking on cases involving segregation, police brutality and racial discrimination while serving as an advisor for the NAACP. /5

Anderson was sponsored by Oscar De Priest and Edward H. Wright. De Priest was a prominent politician and civil rights advocate who later became the first African American from the North elected to Congress. Wright was a major figure in Chicago politics and law known as the “Iron Master.” /4

To be admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court, an attorney must be licensed to practice for at least three years, be in good standing, and have good moral and professional character. Most importantly, the attorney must be sponsored by two current Supreme Court Bar members. /3

It is difficult to overstate the significance of Anderson’s admission to the Supreme Court Bar. It symbolized a crucial step forward for women and minorities in the legal profession in the 1920s. It also paved the way for other Black women to follow in federal-level legal practice. /2

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