Women's History Month
Every year, March is designated as Women’s History Month and provides an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women in American history. The OPAA is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Ohio’s twenty female elected/appointed prosecutors, an increase of more than 50% in the past 5 years. Included in the twenty female prosecuting attorneys is Summit County’s longest serving prosecutor, Sherri Bevan Walsh, who has broken barriers and provided opportunities for other women to achieve success. In 2021, the OPAA recognized Sherri Bevan Walsh as the Outstanding Prosecuting Attorney of the year for her efforts in fighting for the rights of crime victims. She was the third woman to receive the award. Sherri has continued to be a trailblazer in victim advocacy.
A different theme is chosen each year for Women’s History Month. This year, the theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” which recognizes the women, past and present, who tell our stories. Storytelling can illuminate injustice, create change, and break barriers. Ohio’s female Prosecuting Attorneys, along with their assistant prosecuting attorneys, tell the stories of victims, ensure that justice is served, and help create safe communities.
Ohio prosecutors have implemented many programs to create safer communities, including women’s self-defense classes, and developing services for victims of crime by adding a victim advocate staff.
Every day in Ohio, in all 88 counties, female prosecuting attorneys and assistant prosecuting attorneys are telling our stories, protecting victims, holding offenders accountable, and ensuring that justice is served. In addition to combatting compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, these women are also often facing discrimination based on gender expectations. The number of female attorneys in the United States is growing, and in 2022, approximately 40 percent of lawyers in the U.S. were women. As the number of female attorneys and female prosecutors increases in the U.S., we can all work together to help female lawyers break barriers and achieve success.
Please join the OPAA in celebrating the female Prosecuting Attorneys in Allen, Ashtabula, Delaware, Guernsey, Hamilton, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Jefferson, Licking, Lucas, Mahoning, Mercer, Pickaway, Sandusky, Summit, Van Wert, Washington, Williams, and Wayne Counties.
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