Harriette Bailey Conn

Harriette Bailey Conn (September 22, 1922 – August 21, 1981) was an American lawyer and politician. A civil rights activist who became known for her efforts to assist minorities, women, and defendants in Indiana's criminal justice system, Conn became the first woman and the first African American to serve as Indiana's state public defender in 1970. She also served as Indianapolis' assistant city attorney from 1968 to 1970, and twice won election to the Indiana House of Representatives (representing Marion County, Indiana, Indianapolis) as a Republican until she resigned her legislative seat to become the state public defender.

Education and family Harriette Vesta Bailey was born in Indianapolis, on September 22, 1922. She was the second child of Nelle Vesta (Hayes) and Robert Lieutenant Bailey. Her father served as an Indiana deputy attorney general from 1930 to 1932 and was a prominent civil rights lawyer in the state and involved in the early efforts of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Bailey attended Indianapolis Public Schools and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School (then the only high school serving the African American community) in 1937 at the age of fourteen. She then enrolled at Talladega College in Alabama, where she majored in English and speech. Before graduating in 1941, Bailey became a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the first woman president of the school's Little Theater.

Bailey returned to Indianapolis after graduation and married Clifton F. Conn Sr. While raising a family of seven children (two daughters and five sons), she enrolled in law school, graduating from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1955. The Conns divorced in 1961.

Although Bailey attended Bethel A.M.E. Church with her family, as an adult she joined a Unitarian congregation.

State legislator A Republican, Conn twice won elections as state representative from Marion County (in the multi-member 26th district) to the Indiana General Assembly. Republicans swept Indianapolis' fifteen seats from Democratic control in 1966, and Conn won re-election in 1968. During the 95th and 96th sessions of the state legislature, Conn became chairperson of the Indiana Welfare and Social Security Committee, as well as a member of the state's Constitutional Revision Commission and the Judiciary Committee. Conn introduced a bill advocating abortion reform, which passed the Indiana House of Representatives and a modified version passed the Indiana Senate, but Indiana governor Roger D. Branigin vetoed the legislation. Conn also introduced a bill that expanded women's property rights that became law in 1967 and sponsored bills related to civil rights, aid to dependent children, and private slum clearance.

Honors and awards Inducted into Crispus Attucks High School Hall of Fame in 1970 Awarded an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree from Franklin College in 1971 Named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1962 and in 1979