A new permanent photo installation honoring trailblazing Ada County women is now on display in the Ada County Courthouse lobby. “Ada County Women Making History” recognizes the contributions of five women who were the first women in their positions in Ada County.
‘The best thing about being a pioneer is when the other wagons show up.” – Judge Deborah A. Bail, the first woman District Judge in the State of Idaho.
Ada County Commissioners Ryan Davidson, Rod Beck (Chair) and Kendra Kenyon unveiled the pictures and spoke of the contributions and combined expertise of the five women being honored. Those being honored today were the late Linda Davis, the first woman Ada County Commissioner (1976), Judge Karen J. Vehlow, the first woman Ada County Magistrate Judge (1977), Judge Deborah A. Bail, the first woman District Judge in the State of Idaho (1983) Jan M. Bennetts, the first woman Prosecutor in Ada County (2014), and Dotti Owens, the first woman Ada County Coroner (2015). Friends, family and colleagues were on hand as the five pictures were unveiled.
Ada County (Established in 1864) is named after a woman, Ada Riggs, one of the daughters of former Idaho Territorial Legislator H.C. Riggs.
