King, Jean

Jean Ledwith King has a record of achievement as an attorney, teacher, political activist, and advocate for women. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 16, 1924. She received her A.B. in English from the University of Michigan (1948), her M.A. in History from the University of Michigan (1953), and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School (1968) where she was also assistant editor of the Michigan Law Review . She was admitted to the bar in 1970.

In addition to her career as an attorney, Jean King has long been politically active as a life-long Democrat involved in local, state, and national party politics. She began in 1959 serving as precinct captain and ward chair in Ann Arbor's Fifth Ward. She has also served as secretary of the Second Congressional District Committee beginning in 1962. In 1967, she was elected to the Democratic State Central Committee as representative from the Second Congressional District. In 1970, she and five other women founded the Women's Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party. This caucus was the first women's caucus in a major political party. In 1976, the caucus achieved an equal division of males and females on the Michigan national delegation, a model for the rules adopted in 1980 by the national party. Through these and other activities, Jean King became an expert on organization and get-out-the-vote. She thoroughly understands party structure and functioning, and has repeatedly demonstrated ability to anticipate and articulate issues.

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