Ruth Ida Abrams

Ruth I. Abrams, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, died on September 12, 2019, in Boston, Massachusetts. Justice Abrams was 88 years old. She was a graduate of Radcliffe College, Class of 1953, and Harvard Law School, Class of 1956. From 1957 to 1960 she entered private practice with her father, Samuel Abrams, and her brother, George. In 1961 she became the only woman serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the state, serving in the Middlesex District Attorney’s office until 1969 when she became Chief of the Appellate Section of the Attorney General’s office. In 1971 Ruth Abrams became Special Counsel to the Supreme Judicial Court and two years later Governor Francis Sargent appointed her to serve on the Massachusetts Superior Court. She was the second woman to serve on that court. In 1977 Governor Michael Dukakis appointed Judge Abrams to the Supreme Judicial Court, the first woman since its founding in 1692.

She served on the court for 23 years, during which time she wrote 501 opinions and served on 10 special legal and bar committees. Justice Abrams wrote landmark decisions covering family law, gender equality, criminal law and minority rights. She was known for encouraging and mentoring women in the field of law and for her major efforts to have more women appointed to judicial positions. Ruth enjoyed following sports, attending operas and theater and traveling extensively in Europe and Asia.

She maintained close relations throughout her life with her brother George and his late wife Maida, her sister Susan and her husband Richard Medalie, her nephews Samuel and Daniel Medalie and his wife Diana , her nieces Sarah Abrams and Rebecca Abrams and her husband Nathan Benn, her grandniece Clara Medalie and her grandnephews Benjamin Medalie and Tobias Benn. She also had close relationships with her cousins and other members of her extended family and with colleagues, former law clerks and with many friends.

A celebration of her life will be held in the near future.

Donations in Ruth’s memory can be made to the Ruth Abrams Endowment, Social Law Library, c/o the SJC Historical Society, John Adams Courthouse, Suite 4100, 1 Pemberton Square, Boston MA 02108.