POUGHKEEPSIE — The Poughkeepsie Common Council has unanimously passed a resolution marking April 11th “Jane Bolin Day,” honoring the late Judge Bolin, who was the first woman of color to serve as a judge in the United States and was a Poughkeepsie native.

“It’s surreal,” said Taneisha Means, a political science professor at Vassar College who spoke in favor of the resolution. “It’s a beautiful example of how the colleges in the area and the community can come together…to say this is really important for our community.”

Judge Bolin was the son of Gaius Bolan, the first black graduate of Williams College (Class of 1889) and a prominent Poughkeepsie attorney.

Gaius objected to his daughter Jane attending law school, saying the legal profession was “too dirty for a woman.”  He later offered a similar protest when a judgeship for her was a possibility.  Jane Bolin eventually became the first black female judge in the United States, with her father’s moral and financial support.

The Northern Duchess chapter of the NAACP will host a celebration of Judge Bolin on April 11th at 58 Parker Ave. You can sign up for a ticket

The resolution is going to be considered by the Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education at their Wednesday meeting and the Dutchess County Legislature will consider the same honor on April 13.