Caroline K. Simon
Encyclopedia
Caroline Klein Simon was an American lawyer and politician.
District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey of Manhattan named her to a panel on revising the Domestic Relations Court Act. During World War II
she served as the Office of Civilian Defense
's director of group activities in New York, New Jersey and Delaware.
Dewey, now Governor, appointed her to the New York State Workers' Compensation Board in 1944, and the temporary State War Council's Committee on Discrimination in Employment in 1943, serving in both posts until 1945. After the war, she helped draft the nation's first state law on job bias based on race, religion or nationality and became a founding member of the resulting New York State Commission Against Discrimination.
In 1956, Governor W. Averell Harriman
, a Democrat, appointed her to the new New York State Youth Commission. The next year she ran for New York City Council
President as a Republican, but she lost to Abe Stark
. In 1958, she served as the legal advisor to the American delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
In 1959 Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller appointed her Secretary of State of New York
, the second woman to hold that post after Florence E. S. Knapp. During her tenure she issued the nation's first regulations against "block busting", in which brokers manipulated property owners' fears about racial or ethnic changes in the neighborhood to provoke sales.
In 1963 she was appointed a judge of the New York Court of Claims
.
Life
She graduated from New York University Law School in 1925.District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey of Manhattan named her to a panel on revising the Domestic Relations Court Act. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she served as the Office of Civilian Defense
Office of Civilian Defense
Office of Civilian Defense was a United States federal emergency war agency set up May 20, 1941 by Executive Order 8757 to co-ordinate state and federal measures for protection of civilians in case of war emergency...
's director of group activities in New York, New Jersey and Delaware.
Dewey, now Governor, appointed her to the New York State Workers' Compensation Board in 1944, and the temporary State War Council's Committee on Discrimination in Employment in 1943, serving in both posts until 1945. After the war, she helped draft the nation's first state law on job bias based on race, religion or nationality and became a founding member of the resulting New York State Commission Against Discrimination.
In 1956, Governor W. Averell Harriman
W. Averell Harriman
William Averell Harriman was an American Democratic Party politician, businessman, and diplomat. He was the son of railroad baron E. H. Harriman. He served as Secretary of Commerce under President Harry S. Truman and later as the 48th Governor of New York...
, a Democrat, appointed her to the new New York State Youth Commission. The next year she ran for New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
President as a Republican, but she lost to Abe Stark
Abe Stark
Abe Stark was a Jewish-American businessman and politician. Born in New York City, he became a tailor and owned a clothing store at 1514 Pitkin Avenue in the East New York section of Brooklyn....
. In 1958, she served as the legal advisor to the American delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
In 1959 Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller appointed her Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
, the second woman to hold that post after Florence E. S. Knapp. During her tenure she issued the nation's first regulations against "block busting", in which brokers manipulated property owners' fears about racial or ethnic changes in the neighborhood to provoke sales.
In 1963 she was appointed a judge of the New York Court of Claims
New York Court of Claims
The New York State Court of Claims is the court which handles all claims against the State of New York and certain state agencies. It is not a small claims court. Judges of the Court of Claims are appointed by the Governor of New York and confirmed by the State Senate for a 9-year term...
.