In 1961, Judge Vaino Spencer was appointed as a municipal court judge in Los Angeles, the first African American woman in California appointed to a judgeship. She became a Superior Court of Los Angeles County judge in 1976, and a California Court of Appeal judge in 1980. Throughout her career, Judge Spencer continued opening doors in the legal profession. She co-founded the Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles and played a pivotal role in establishing the National Association of Women Judges.
