Nora Guinn

Guinn became United States Commissioner before Alaska became a state.^[1] After Alaska became a state, she became the first magistrate of Bethel in 1959.^[1][3] She became District Court Judge for the state, in 1967, despite not being a lawyer.^[1] This made her the first woman, and first Alaska Native, to serve as a District Court Judge.^[4] She became involved in educating law enforcement and the judicial community about the needs and rights of Alaska Natives. She worked closely with Sadie Brower Neakok. In court, Guinn would speak to defendants in English, and also in Yupik as necessary. She retired in 1976.^[1] In 1978, she was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Alaska Anchorage.^[5]

Bella Hammond gave Guinn the First Lady's Volunteer Award in 1979. She was named Alaska Native Woman of the Year Award in 1983. The following year she was named Calista Citizen of the Year.^[6] Charlie Guinn died in 1993.^[7] Nora Guinn died in 2005. In 2009, she was inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame.^[4] The Alaska Bar Association named an award after Guinn.^[8] In 2007, the city of Bethel named the Bethel Courthouse after Guinn.^[9]