On July 31, 1981, Arnette Rhinehart Hubbard, a Chicago-based attorney, made history by becoming the first female president of the National Bar Association (NBA). Founded in 1925, the NBA is the largest organization representing Black lawyers and judges in the United States. Hubbard’s groundbreaking achievement marked a significant milestone for both women and African Americans in the legal profession, breaking a longstanding gender barrier in a major national legal organization.
Born in Stephens, Arkansas, Arnette Hubbard earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University before graduating from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1969. Early in her career, she worked as a staff attorney for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, advocating for civil rights and justice. Throughout her career, Hubbard has been a passionate champion of voting rights and civil liberties.
During her tenure as NBA president, Hubbard helped guide the organization in its mission to promote professional and social advancement among Black legal professionals while advocating for legislation to protect civil and political rights. She was a leading voice in efforts to secure voting rights for disenfranchised populations and elevate the representation of Black attorneys and judges in the justice system.
In subsequent years, Hubbard continued to break barriers. She served as a Chicago Board of Election Commissioner for eight years and was the first African American president of the Illinois Association of Election Commissioners. In 1997, she was appointed as a Cook County Circuit Court judge, further extending her impact on the legal landscape.
Arnette Rhinehart Hubbard’s historic leadership in 1981 opened doors for future Black women in law and remains a proud moment in Black history.
For more information on Black history, arts, and culture, visit www.caamuseum.org.
