Representatives who wrote an article for 1981 summer judicial conference. the Oklahoma Gazette upon Wilson’s In the 1980s, 5.4% of all federal judges passing in 1999, recalled Wilson’s and less than 5% of state court judges tenacity and drive to seek a judicial were women. Almost half of the states had appointment in Cleveland County. She no women in any courts. In 1982, Wilson helped organize Wilson’s campaign became the first woman to be appointed for Cleveland County District Judge. At to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. She the time, Wilson claimed to not know was one of only eighteen women serving anything about politics, but she was able on a state supreme court at that time. to mobilize “everyone she ever met” to Then Governor George Nigh selected make phone calls and write letters to her from three candidates submitted by the governor on her behalf. The day she the Judicial Nominating Commission was appointed to the judgeship in 1975, to replace Justice Ben T. Williams. then Governor David L. Boren tripled Upon her appointment, the Tulsa World the number of female district judges in pointed out that the legislature had Oklahoma by appointing not one but rejected the proposed Equal Rights two women to the bench. Wilson served Amendment just weeks before, “Judge as Cleveland County District Judge for Wilson’s appointment takes on special seven years. significance. It indicates that in spite Alma Bell Wilson and former Governor “Of all the applicants Alma stood out of the Legislature’s errant decision on George Nigh on the day of her swearing in to me,” Boren said in a 2012 interview, ERA, women will not be excluded from to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Courtesy “She was a person who knew the law, she full participation in the administration Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives. wasn’t afraid to apply the law with great courage as she saw it. She was active in and leadership of this state. But women the community. I felt very strongly too that will have achieved true equality when judges should not only be excellent in the appointments such as Judge Wilson’s courtroom, have an excellent knowledge are no longer unusual.” The Tulsa of law, but that they should demonstrate World article goes on to report that the in their own lives a real commitment to the announcement from the governor’s office total community, raising the quality of life was made without fanfare, the same as for everyone.” In 1975 Wilson received any appointment previously, an indication the Norman Business and Professional that women were to be afforded equal Woman of the Year Award and was rights and such appointments should be inducted into the University of Oklahoma done routinely. Hall of Fame. In the midst of her busy Justice Noma Gurich of the Oklahoma Alma Bell Wilson was the first woman career, she remained an active tennis Supreme Court stated in a 2012 interview, named to Oklahoma’s highest court. player and won a tennis tournament at a “With the appointment of Sandra Day Courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society. O’Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court and the appointment of Justice Wilson on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which took place within about a year of each other, I think everything changed for women in the judiciary in Oklahoma.” Gurich went on to say that it was a really exciting time because Wilson had convinced people it was time for women to be on the bench in the state’s highest court, and it didn’t matter that you were a woman anymore. Wilson gave a voice to views that were never represented before—that of mother, sister, daughter, and wife. She participated in dozens of interviews in the wake of the historic judicial appointment. In a Alma Bell Wilson and her husband Bill in their Pauls Valley home. Courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society. candid confession, Wilson revealed 36