NOTED WOMAN LAWYER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20084, 23 October 1928, Page 10

NOTED WOMAN LAWYER.

IN THE NATION'S SPOTLIGHT.

MRS. WILLEBRANDT'S CAREER.

[from our own correspondent.] NEW YORK. Sept. 19

Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt is one of tho most discussed, highly-praised and reviled individuals in the United Statos. As Assistant-Attorney-Genoral of tho United States, and especially assigned to prohibition, she is just now in the spotlight of tho wholo nation.

Born in Kansas of English stock, Mrs. Willebrandt commenced her career as a teacher, graduating in law at the University of California. In 1915 she organised a plan for tho Public Defender of Los Angeles for tho dofence of women charged with crime Her services hero brought her under tho notice of President Harding, who appointed her Assistant-Attor-ney-General.

When she first camo under national ob servation two years ago, Mrs. Willebrandt undertook the prosecution of bootleggers, rum-runners and hi-jackors, in connection with tho Federal Smuggling Commission which co-operated with a similar commission appointed by the Canadian Government. In this diity on 0110 occasion she travelled by air from Seattle, on llu> Pacific Coast to New York and back, to secure further evidence and instructions. Mrs. Willebrandt was brought more visibly before tho public at tho recent Ho publican Convention, which appointed her chairman of the credentials committee, a position which is not second in importance to any nt a national convention, Ilcr successful defence of the committee's report was one of 'he most acrgressive and brilliant speeches in the convention. She is regarded as being not merely one of Hie women leaders of the Republican Party, nor a political-social totem pole around which women's clubs may gravitate, but as fin acknowledged authority in the inside circle of the party

Mrs. Willebrandt is still a young woman, in tho middle thirties. Her only child, now live years old. shares with her interests, mainly political, which aro expected, shoulti the Republican regime bo continued, to bring her one day to a scat in tho Cabinet, at Washington.