Quince Elected Chief Justice of Florida Supreme Court
Florida Justice Peggy Quince
Becomes first black woman to serve as chief justice
Florida Justice Peggy Quince
Peggy Quince, Florida Supreme Court Justice and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha's International Membership Committee, has been elected chief justice, the highest judicial position in the state.
Quince's milestone is doubly significant. She becomes the first black woman to lead the Florida Supreme Court or any branch of state government. The chief justice also oversees the entire state court system.
Known for her quick mind and probing questions on the bench, and an engaging personality off, Quince will assume her role as chief justice on July 1.
In a statement, Quince thanked her colleagues for electing her in a 6-0 vote. She said she looked forward to serving the people of Florida. "It is an honor and a privilege being a member of the Court and serving with outstanding Florida public servants," Quince said.
Barbara A. McKinzie, international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, congratulated Quince on her latest achievement. McKinzie hailed Quince as an example of the essence of Alpha Kappa Alpha members, and as a role model for women throughout the United States and around the world.
"We salute our member for reaching another milestone in her stellar judicial career. Her election as chief justice shows young girls and women that they, too, can aspire for and obtain greatness."
She is the first African-American female to be appointed to the Florida Supreme Court, appointed on Dec. 8, 1998, by Gov. Lawton Chiles and Gov.-elect Jeb Bush.
Prior to that, she was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal in 1993, becoming the first African-American woman appointed to any of the state's five lower appellate courts.
She received her B.S. from Howard University and her J.D. from Catholic University of America. Quince is also the recipient of honorary doctor of laws degrees from Stetson University College of Law and St. Thomas University College of Law.
A member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Quince is involved in numerous civic activities, including Jack and Jill of America, Inc., the Urban League, NAACP, and The Links Inc. She also is a member of the Tallahassee Women Lawyers Association, National Bar Association, Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers, and several state bars.
Her service with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority began when she pledged Alpha Chapter in 1969. Quince is a member of Delta Kappa Omega Chapter in Tallahassee and serves on the International Membership Committee. She formerly served on the Risk Management and Anti-Hazing task force.
Click on the following for a newspaper account of the announcement and to learn more about Justice Quince.
"Quince to be Florida's first African-American female chief justice"
Justice Quince's bio