Edith Bornn was an American attorney from Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, who became the first woman with a private law practice on the island.
14 Facts About Edith Bornn
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Edith Bornn served as president of the local chapter of the LWV and was president of the national US organization from 1980 to 1982, as well as serving on numerous commissions for the government of the Virgin Islands.
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Edith Lucille Bornn was born on August 30,1922, in Queen's Quarter of Charlotte Amalie on the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands to Gladys Isabelle Louise and David Victor Bornn.
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Immediately after completing her schooling, Edith Bornn began working for the United Nations' Caribbean Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad, compiling a report on social legislation throughout the Caribbean.
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Edith Bornn worked for the commission and on the Governor's Committee for the Caribbean Basin Initiative for two years as a research librarian and legal secretary.
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Edith Bornn's position entailed traveling throughout the British West Indies, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to evaluate labor and social conditions in preparation for a report on improving legislation.
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In 1955, Edith Bornn opened her own law practice, becoming the first woman with a private practice in the Virgin Islands.
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Edith Bornn specialized in family law and particularly was interested in laws providing protection for women and children.
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Edith Bornn was very involved in environmental issues and concerned about overdevelopment, leading citizens' protests and participating in hearings to curtail resort expansion, which threatened beaches and wildlife refuges.
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In 1956, Edith Bornn became one of the founders of the Women's League, as well as founding the Virgin Island's chapter of the League of Women Voters.
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Edith Bornn served as president of the local chapter between 1976 and 1979, and was National President of the League of Women Voters of the United States between 1980 and 1982.
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Edith Bornn participated in numerous international women's conferences, encouraging women to become civically and politically active, through the LWV, the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the World Jurist Association, formerly known as the World Peace Through Law Center.
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Edith Bornn died on June 4,2010, at the Roy Schneider Hospital in Charlotte Amalie after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
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Edith Bornn is remembered as a legal pioneer in the US Virgin Islands, for her activism for women and children and as an environmental and conservation advocate.