SARAH WEDDINGTON
Sarah Weddington is a nationally-known attorney and spokesperson on leadership
and public issues. She is particularly well known for her work on issues
affecting women through her many roles as attorney, legislator, presidential
advisor, professor, and expert called upon by the national media.
In 1973, at age 26, she argued the winning side of the landmark case
Roe v. Wade, to make abortion legal, before the United States Supreme
Court. She is thought to be the youngest woman ever to win a case in
the Supreme Court.
Weddington has been a long-time advocate for women. In 1972, she was
the first woman from Austin elected to the Texas House of Representatives.
She served three terms before becoming the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
General Counsel in 1977, the first woman to ever hold that position.
From 1978 to 1981, Weddington served as Assistant to the President
of the United States. She was designated by President Carter to direct
the
Administration's work on womens issues and leadership outreach. She
also directed White House efforts to extend the time for ratification
of the
ERA and to assist in the selection of women for federal judiciary appointments.
Weddington is the author of the best-seller, A Question of Choice,
which details the Roe v. Wade case.
Weddington has received numerous honors and awards. In 2000, Texas
Lawyer named her as "One of the Most Influential Lawyers of the 20th Century," and the Houston Chronicle named her as one of "The Tallest Texans - Those who left their mark on Texas and the rest of the world
in the 20th Century."
Weddington holds honorary doctorates from McMurry University, Hamilton
College, Austin College, Southwestern University, and Nova Southeastern
University. She received her J.D. degree from The University of Texas
School of Law in 1967 and is a Distinguished Alumna of McMurry University.
