First woman police judge in USA--Julia Waldrip Ker
from "The Sunday Olympian" of July 3, 1949
Olympia, Thurston County, Washington
Julia Waldrip Ker
The funeral service for Julia Waldrip Ker will be held in Mills & Mills chapel this Tuesday afternoon, starting at three o'clock.Burial will take place in Masonic Cemetery.Mrs. Ker died Thursday night after a short illness.Born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, July 5, 1881, she came to Olympia with her parents in 1891.She studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1912.She served three terms as city treasurer.Since 1915 she has practiced law continuously in Olympia.In 1926 she had the distinction of serving as the first woman police judge in the United States.Mrs. Ker is a member of the Zonta Club, the Degree of Honor, Trinity Chapter of Eastern Star, and the Malachi Shrine of Jerusalem.Surviving are her daughter, Mrs. Vera Waldrip Miller; two brothers, James C. Johnson of Olympia and J. A. Johnson of Eureka, California; a grand-daughter, Mrs. Kenneth (Shirley) Clark of Olympia, and four great grandchildren, Scott, Edward, Jennifer and Julie.The family suggests that instead of sending flowers to the funeral, contributions be sent to the Children's Orthopedic Hospital.