The Oklahoma Bar Journal September 2024

W omen in L aw

Norma Frazier Wheaton

N ORMA FRAZIER WHEATON WAS BORN AUG. 13, 1899, in New York City and was orphaned at the age of 11. The oldest of three children, Ms. Wheaton became a parent to her younger siblings. After graduating from Northwestern University, she took a secre tarial position in the office of Hudson and Hudson, a Tulsa law firm, so her siblings could also receive a college education. 1

the Oklahoma Supreme Court to declare that in the constitutional provision stating that 12 men should serve on grand juries, the use of the term “men” was generic and should also include women. Ten long years after she began pushing the Legislature to secure the rights for women to serve on juries, her efforts were finally realized with the decision in In re House Bill No. 145 and the primary election on July 1, 1952. 6

While working for Robert D. Hudson and his father, Wash Hudson, Ms. Wheaton realized she wanted her legal career to involve more than just typing briefs for the Hudsons. She wanted to be a lawyer. Determined, she entered the TU College of Law and gradu ated with highest honors in 1927. 2 She was admitted to the Oklahoma bar later that year. After graduat ing, Ms. Wheaton continued her career with Hudson and Hudson but traded her secretarial duties for those of an attorney. In 1947, she was named a partner in the firm, which became Hudson, Hudson, Wheaton and Brett. 3 Ms. Wheaton practiced in the area of real property, insurance and domestic law until her retire ment in 1972. 4 She was an attorney of record on six reported decisions from 1928 to 1965, one of which, In re House Bill No. 145 , secured for women the right to serve on juries. 5 Up against Attorney General Mac Q. Williamson and First Assistant Attorney General Fred Hansen, Ms. Wheaton – along with Mildred Brooks Fitch, Jewell Russell Mann and Dorothy Young – convinced

During this time in Oklahoma history, women had no stronger advocate than Ms. Wheaton. She wanted women to not only gain equality in the legal profession but in all areas of life. In 1942, when the highest office a woman could hold in Oklahoma was that of department head, Ms. Wheaton “spearheaded legislation to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to grant women the right to hold the state offices of governor,

Ms. Wheaton’s involvement in the legal community demonstrated that not only could women practice law, but they could also hold responsible positions in legal organizations previously held primarily by their male counterparts.

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

34 | SEPTEMBER 2024

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL