Former U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy, a legal pioneer who was the first female judge appointed to the federal court bench in Detroit and the first female chief judge of any U.S. District Court, died Monday at her Grosse Pointe Woods home.
She was 90.
Mrs. Kennedy, a native of Detroit and granddaughter of Dutch immigrant farmers, graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1947 — following in the footsteps of her father, mother and older sister.
Over the years, she left her mark on the male-dominated legal profession as a woman of many firsts.
After graduating from law school, she became the first woman to clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She then went into private practice for 20 years in Detroit, where she eventually was elected to the Wayne County Circuit Court.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed her to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In 1977, she became chief judge of that court.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter elevated her to the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, making her the second woman to sit on that court.
At the time, Mrs. Kennedy was jokingly given the hot plate on which the first female 6th Circuit judge had warmed her lunch. She eventually was admitted to an all-male private club that her male counterparts belonged to and dined at, although the maitre d’ initially refused to seat her because he was unaware of the club policy change.
Mrs. Kennedy and her sister, Margaret G. Schaeffer, who sat on the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills, were the first sister judges in the country.
Mrs. Kennedy was an avid traveler, visiting more than 80 countries and 49 states. She also loved gardening and reading, especially historical nonfiction and British mysteries.
She was predeceased by her husband, Charles S. Kennedy Jr.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Charles S. and Angela Kennedy; two grandchildren; her sister, Dr. Christine G. Gram, and 28 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Honorable Cornelia G. Kennedy Scholarship, c/o Alexandra Haddad, University of Michigan Law School, 701 S. State St., Suite 4000, Ann Arbor 48109.
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