DuFour, Kathyrn J., 1910-2005

Kathryn J. DuFour (March 19, 1910 — February 4, 2005)[1] was the first female judge in the Maryland Circuit Courts. The law library at The Catholic University of America is named in her honor.[2]

Early life and education
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, DuFour was a teenage actress, playing small roles for MGM and Fox Studios, until her mother forced her to stop acting and finish high school. After marrying a trial attorney and moving to Maryland, DuFour pursued law herself, graduating from the Washington College of Law at American University in 1935. After law school, she worked as a private attorney and for the Legal Aid Bureau and raised two children.[2]

Career
In 1950 she was elected to the Montgomery County Council. In 1953 she was appointed to the Maryland General Assembly by Governor Theodore McKeldin. In 1955 she was appointed as a judge in the Maryland Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. In 1967 she became the first female chief judge on the same circuit.

Kathryn J. DuFour, 94, a Montgomery County jurist who was Maryland's first female Circuit Court judge, died of complications from a stroke Feb. 4 at her home in Gulf Stream, Fla. She had lived in Florida since 1988.

Judge DuFour, who was known as Kathryn Lawlor and Kathryn Shook for most of her 16 years on the bench, was appointed a Montgomery County judge in 1955. The next year, she was elected to a 15-year term as a circuit judge. After retiring in 1971, she became a philanthropist, particularly for Catholic causes The law library at Catholic's Columbus School of Law is named in Judge DuFour's honor, as is an annual scholarship for a second-year female law student. Kathryn Josephine Condon was born March 19, 1910, in Lawrence, Mass., and grew up in Hollywood, Calif. Despite not having attended college, she graduated from American University's law school in 1936 and entered private practice in Silver Spring. Judge DuFour, who was known as Kathryn Lawlor and Kathryn Shook for most of her 16 years on the bench, was appointed a Montgomery County judge in 1955. The next year, she was elected to a 15-year term as a circuit judge. After retiring in 1971, she became a philanthropist, particularly for Catholic causes The law library at Catholic's Columbus School of Law is named in Judge DuFour's honor, as is an annual scholarship for a second-year female law student. Kathryn Josephine Condon was born March 19, 1910, in Lawrence, Mass., and grew up in Hollywood, Calif. Despite not having attended college, she graduated from American University's law school in 1936 and entered private practice in Silver Spring.