Beatrice Hancock Mullaney (died on June 24, 1990) was an American jurist who served as the first female judge of the Massachusetts Probate Court.

Early life

Mullaney was born in

Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state. Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...

. She graduated from the

Boston University School of Law Boston University School of Law (Boston Law or BU Law) is the law school of Boston University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States and considered an eli ...

in 1928 and opened her first law office in 1929. The following year she married Joseph Mullaney, a private investigator. They had five children.

Government service

In 1942, Governor

Leverett Saltonstall Leverett A. Saltonstall (September 1, 1892June 17, 1979) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts. He served three two-year terms as the List of Governors of Massachusetts, 55th Governor of Massachusetts, and for more than twent ...

appointed Mullaney to the position of public administrator. She was the first woman to hold this office. From 1945 to 1949 she was an assistant state attorney general, specializing in violations of the corrupt practices act as well as mental health and public welfare. In 1952 she was the

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

nominee for Secretary of the Commonwealth. She lost to Democratic incumbent Edward J. Cronin 51% to 48%. In 1953 she was elected vice chairman of the

Massachusetts Republican Party The Massachusetts Republican Party (MassGOP) is the Massachusetts branch of the U.S. Republican Party. In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 52, the party is governed by a state committee which consists of one man and one woma ...

. In 1955 she was appointed to the Probate Court in

Bristol County, Massachusetts Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...

. She retired in 1975.

Death

Mullaney fell ill during the 67th reunion of the B.M.C. Durfee High School class of 1923. She died on June 24, 1990, at St. Anne Hospital in Fall River. She was 84 years old. At the time of her death she was a resident of

Westport, Massachusetts Westport (Massachusett: ) is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,339 at the 2020 census. The village of North Westport lies in the town. Other named areas of the town are "Westport Point," which has a do ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullaney, Beatrice Hancock 1990 deaths Boston University School of Law alumni Massachusetts Republicans Judges of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court People from Fall River, Massachusetts People from Westport, Massachusetts 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American judges