Irma S. Raker
MSA SC 3520-11659

Biography:

Irma S. Raker was born April 24, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York.¹  She attended Midwood High School and earned her B.A. from Syracuse University in 1959.  Later that year she studied at the Hague Academy of International Law.²  After earning her undergraduate degree, she spent several years raising her three children Mark, Stefanie, and Leslie.³  Although she enjoyed motherhood immensely, Raker said that she was “biding her time” professionally.⁴  At age 32, she returned to law school, earning her J.D. from Washington College of Law at the American University in 1972.⁵  During law school, Raker worked hard to balance her education and her family life, sometimes taking her children to class with her.  Her husband Samuel K. Raker, a nuclear engineer, entertained the children by taking them swimming so that Raker could complete her academic work.⁶  Raker believes that her greatest personal accomplishment  was raising her three children while attended law school.⁷  As a law student, she published “The New 'No-Knock' Provision and its Effect on the Authority of the Police to Break and Enter” in the American University Law Review (1970-71).⁸

Raker gained admittance to the Maryland Bar in 1973.⁹  She began her legal career as the first woman assistant state’s attorney for Montgomery County, working under Andrew L. Sonner.¹⁰  Deborah Jennings, a co-worker at the State’s Attorney’s Office recalls Raker’s impact: “People didn’t look to see how Irma would do as a prosecutor.  They looked to see how a woman would do as a prosecutor.  Within six months, the state’s attorney’s hired another woman, and the first African-American state’s attorney.  Then the public defender started hiring women.  It wasn’t long before you came into a courtroom and saw women sheriffs, women prosecutors and women defense attorneys all in the same case--lots of faces, just as it should be.”¹¹

In 1979, Raker entered private practice as a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Sachs, Greenebaum, and Tayler, where she remained until 1980.¹²  From 1980 to 1982, she served as an associate judge in the District Court of Maryland, District 6, Montgomery County.¹³  In 1982, Governor Harry Hughes appointed her to the position of associate judge in the Montgomery County Circuit Court, Sixth Judicial Circuit, replacing Judge Joseph M. Mathias.¹⁴  She remained in this position until Governor William Donald Shaefer nominated her to the Court of Appeals, Seventh Appellate Circuit, Montgomery County in 1993.¹⁵

Raker’s appointment to the Court of Appeals was significant for several reasons.  She became the only judge from Montgomery County on either the Court of Appeals or the Court of Special Appeals.  In addition, she is only the second woman to sit on the Court of Appeals after Judge Rita C. Davidson.¹⁶  Women’s groups throughout the state lauded her appointment.  Susan Souder, president of the Women’s Bar Association told the Maryland Daily Record, “We’re thrilled…Beyond the fact that she’s highly qualified for the position, we’re particularly thrilled because she has been a real role model and a mentor for other women lawyers…It’s important to the state of Maryland that all of its benches be diverse and represent all citizens of the state.”¹⁷ Yet, her supporters took care to emphasize that Raker was not chosen for her gender alone.  She was cited for her fairness and her particular skill in the research and writing needed from a Court of Appeals judge.  Delegate Nancy K. Kopp told The Baltimore Sun that Raker has “one of the best minds and greatest senses of dedication to public service of any of the judges I have met.”¹⁸  Lawyer Barry Helfand commented, “She’s a great choice because the truth is that no one will ever be able to question her fairness.”¹⁹

In taking her position on the Court of Appeals, Raker followed in the footsteps of the late Rita C. Davidson, the first woman to sit on the Court of Appeals.  In 1995, the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland presented Raker with an award in Davidson’s name. The annual Rita C. Davidson award goes to “a person who has contributed to the honor and integrity of the legal profession by advancing the interests of women in the practice of law.”²⁰  At her reception, Raker commented on her similarities to Davidson.  Both began their legal careers in Montgomery County Courts and both came to the Court of Appeals as representatives of the Third Appellate Judicial Circuit. Raker also wears the same robe as Davidson did.  She explained that, “The Court of Appeals judges’ robes were cut from one bolt of cloth so the dye matches.”²¹ A new robe would not have matched exactly.  As a solution, the Court of Appeal’s altered Davidson’s robe to fit Raker, prompting Raker to joke, “It’s very nice to have this connection to history.  But I’m only 5'2", so I don’t know what it says for my replacement.”²²  When presenting the award, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert C. Murphy remarked, “Rita C. Davidson changed the legal and judicial landscape in our state,” and cited Raker as continuing that legacy.²³

Throughout her legal career, Raker has demonstrated a particular concern for women and children.  During the 1970s, she helped establish Montgomery County’s Rape Crisis Center.²⁴  She is a member of the National Association of Women Judges and served as the president of its Maryland Chapter in 1994.²⁵  She is also a member of Montgomery County’s Commission on Battered Spouses and a member of the  Advisory Commission on Child Abuse and Neglect.²⁶  She has served on the Attorney General’s and Lieutenant Governor’s Family Violence Council since 1995.²⁷  Women’s Bar Association President Susan L. Bayly comments, “She’s always been an advocate for issues of importance to women and families.  Her advocacy goes back to a time before these issues were in the papers.”²⁸

Raker is also known for her intellectual approach to the law.  She has served as head of the state’s committee drafting pattern jury instructions for use in criminal cases and chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Standards Commission.  Delegate Timothy F. Maloney, a former co-worker of Raker’s, recalls working with her on revisions to the state’s criminal code:  “When an esoteric issue arose over arson law, Judge Raker researched statutes from around the country to see how other states addressed the matter.”²⁹  She received the American Judicature Book Award for Torts, Criminal Procedure and the Lura E. Turley Award, Washington College of Law, Law Review, The American University.³⁰  In addition to serving as a judge, Raker is an adjunct professor at the Washington College of Law at the American University, a position she has held since 1980.³¹

Raker has participated in many professional and civic organizations. There organizations include:

1979:  Member, Montgomery County Advisory Commission on Environmental Law.³²

1980-present:  President and Treasurer, National Association of Women Judges, Maryland Chapter.³³

1985-89:  Executive Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference.³⁴

1991-present:  Member, Maryland Special Committee to Revise Art, 27, Crimes and Punishment, Annotated Code for Maryland.³⁵

1994-present: Fellow, American Bar Association. (1994: state delegate, conference of state trial judges; chair, criminal justice standards committee;³⁶ 1997: elected, three-year term, criminal law section; 1998: member, Task Force on Youth in the Criminal Justice System; 1999: Member, Trial Release Task Force³⁷).

1996-present:  Member, Network 2000.³⁸

1997:  Elected, American Law Institute.³⁹

1997- present:  Chair, Maryland Judicial Compensation Committee.⁴⁰

1998-present:  Member, Public Awareness Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference.⁴¹

1998-present:  Member, Dean’s Advisory Council, Washington College of Law.⁴²

1998-Present:  Member, Advisory Board, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.⁴³

2000: Member, Board of Directors, Jobs Unlimited.⁴⁴

Member, Maryland State Bar Association (board of governors; chair, criminal law & practice section; chair, committee to draft pattern jury instructions in criminal cases).⁴⁵

Member, Montgomery County Bar Association.⁴⁶

Member, Women's Bar Association of Maryland.⁴⁷

Member, Women's Bar Association of District of Columbia.⁴⁸

Raker is the recipient of numerous awards and other honors.  In 1995, she received the Award of Appreciation from the New York Bar Foundation and the Margaret Brent Trailblazer's Award from the American Bar Association.  In 1996, she was named to Who’s Who of American Law, and honored as an Outstanding Alumnus Spokesperson and Jurist by the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Greater Baltimore.⁴⁹  Three times (1997, 1999, and 2001), the Maryland Daily Record named Raker to its annual list of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, placing her in their “Circle of Excellence.”⁵⁰  In October 1998, she received the Elizabeth Dole Achievement Award from the Montgomery Chapter of the American Red Cross. This award goes to “a woman who has broken through the ‘glass ceiling,’ overcoming obstacles in the workplace, and [who] has distinguished herself as a true leader and achiever.”⁵¹ In 1999 the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland presented her with their Distinguished Women’s Award.⁵²  That same year Raker received the Century of Service Award from the Montgomery County Bar Association and honors from two of her alma matters:  the Distinguished Alumna Award from Washington College of Law of the American University, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Midwood High School Alumni Association.⁵³ In October 2000 she was honored as an Outstanding Jurist by the Montgomery County Bar Associations.⁵⁴  In 2007, the American Bar Association selected Judge Raker for one of its highest honors, the Margaret Brent Award which "recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women lawyers who have excelled in their field and have paved the way to success for other women lawyers."⁵⁵

Both of Raker’s daughters have followed her into the legal profession.  Stefanie Raker is a lawyer in Israel and Leslie Janis is an assistant state’s attorney.  Janis cites her mother as a role model.  “I attended law school when I was three years old,” she said.  “I just assumed the law was for women.”⁵⁵

Judge Raker retired from the bench on April 24, 2008, having reached the state's mandatory retirement age.

1.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
2.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
3.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
4.  Frank Langfitt, “Judge who started law career in her 30s nominated to state’s high court,” The Baltimore Sun, 29 November 1993.
5.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
6.  Frank Langfitt, Frank. “Judge who started law career in her 30s nominated to state’s high court,” The Baltimore Sun, 29 November 1993.
7.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
8.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
9.  ibid.
10.  Jane Bowling, “Raker Feted by Women’s Bar; Second Judge on Md. High Court Honored in Name of the First,” The Maryland Daily Record,18 October 1995: 1.
11.  ibid.
12.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
13.  ibid.
14.  Tom Linthicum and Karen Hosler, “Hughes gives Byrnes post on city court,” The Baltimore Sun, 19 January 1982.
15.  Frank Langfitt, “Judge who started law career in her 30s nominated to state’s high court,” The Baltimore Sun, 29 November 1993.
16.  ibid.
17.  Patty Reinert, “Raker Appointment Cheered: Chief Judge Calls Her a Worthy Successor to First Woman on Court,” The Maryland Daily Record, 30 November 1993.
18.  Frank Langfitt, “Judge who started law career in her 30s nominated to state’s high court,” The Baltimore Sun, 29 November 1993.
19.  Patty Reinert, “Raker Appointment Cheered: Chief Judge Calls Her a Worthy Successor to First Woman on Court.” The Maryland Daily Record. 30 November 1993.
20.  Jane Bowling, “Raker Feted by Women’s Bar; Second Judge on Md. High Court Honored in Name of the First,” The Maryland Daily Record, 18 October 1995: 1.
21.  ibid.
22.  ibid.
23.  ibid.
24.  ibid.
25.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
26.  ibid.
27.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
28.  Jane Bowling, “Raker Feted by Women’s Bar; Second Judge on Md. High Court Honored in Name of the First,” The Maryland Daily Record,18 October 1995: 1.
29.  Ibid.
30.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
31.  ibid.
32.  ibid.
33.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
34.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
35.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
36.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
37.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
38.  ibid.
39.  ibid.
40.  ibid.
41.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
42.  ibid.
43.  ibid.
44.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
45.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
46.  ibid.
47.  ibid.
48.  ibid.
49.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
50.  ibid.
51.  The Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, Women’s Bar News, No. 8: Spring 1999. http://www.wba-md.org/Publications/1999_Spring.pdf.
52.  Maryland Manual on-line. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/29ap/html/msa11659.html.
53.  Maryland Daily Record's Top 100 Women for 2001. The Daily Record. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/top100w/01raker.html.
54.  ibid.
55.  American Bar Assocation's Margaret Brent Awards, http://www.abanet.org/women/awards.html
56.  Jane Bowling, “Raker Feted by Women’s Bar; Second Judge on Md. High Court Honored in Name of the First,” The Maryland Daily Record, 18 October 1995: 1.

Biography written by 2001 summer intern Alicia Brooks; updated by Jennifer Hafner, September 2008.

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