Virginia Dill McCarty

Virginia Dill McCarty (December 15, 1924 – May 26, 2006) was an American lawyer who served as the U.S. Attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana from 1977 to 1981, and became the first woman to be appointed and serve a full, four-year term as U.S. Attorney. McCarty's career as a public servant in Indiana also worked as a deputy attorney general and assistant attorney general for the State of Indiana (1964–1969), a member of the Indiana Board of Law Examiners (1971–1976), chief counsel to the Marion County, Indiana, Prosecutor (1975–1976), and chairman of the Board for the Indiana Department of Correction (1989–2006). In addition, McCarty co-founded the Indiana Women's Political Caucus and the Greater Indianapolis Women's Political Caucus in 1971 and served as the first president of each organization. As an advocate for women's equality and increasing women's roles in politics and government, McCarty was also involved in the campaign to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Indiana in 1977.

McCarty, a native of Plainfield, Indiana, and a Phi Beta Kappa member, graduated first in her class from the Indiana University School of Law–Indianapolis (the present-day Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law) in 1950 and was a partner in private law practice in Indianapolis. McCarty was a recipient of an honorary J.D. degree from Indiana Central College (the present-day University of Indianapolis) in 1979, and an honorary Doctor of Law degree from IU School of Law–Indianapolis, in 1986. In addition to her legal work, McCarty was active in Democratic Party politics in Indiana, but was unsuccessful in her bids for elected office. In 1966 McCarty was the first woman to be nominated by major party for a judgeship in Marion County, Indiana, and in 1976, she was the first woman in Indiana to be nominated for Indiana Attorney General. In 1983, she became first woman candidate to run for the office of Governor of Indiana, but she lost in the Democratic primary in 1984. McCarthy also announced her candidacy for the 1988 Indiana gubernatorial race, but ended her campaign in April 1987 due to insufficient campaign funds.

Early life and education Virginia Dill was born on December 15, 1924, in Plainfield, Indiana, to Martha Gertrude (Paddack) Dill and Doctor Erasmus Millard Dill. Virginia continued her education at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1946, She was the recipient of an honorary J.D. degree from Indiana Central College (the present-day University of Indianapolis) in 1979, and an honorary Doctor of Law degree from IU School of Law–Indianapolis in 1986.

On April 28, 1946, Virginia Dill married Mendel Oz McCarty. They were the parents of two children: a daughter, Janet McCarty, and son, Michael McCarty. After Mendel McCarty died on March 31, 1973, Virginia Dill McCarty, a working mother, continue her career in law and politics. McCarty also served from 1971 to 1976 as a member of the Indiana Board of Law Examiners, Although she lost the race to the incumbent Theodore L. Sendak, McCarty received more votes than any other Democratic candidate since 1968.

U.S. District Attorney U.S. Senator Birch Bayh recommended McCarty for U.S. Attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in February 1977, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the post in June 1977. McCarty served from 1977 to 1981, becoming the first woman to be appointed and serve a full, four-year term as U.S. Attorney.

Equal rights advocate In 1971, McCarty co-founded the Indiana Women's Political Caucus and the Greater Indianapolis Women's Political Caucus. She also served as the first president of each organization. Among its primary concern was passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), in addition to seeking equal pay and job opportunities for women and involving more women in leadership positions in politics and government.

Private practice lawyer McCarty was a partner in the law firm of Dillon, McCarty, Hardamon and Cohen in Indianapolis from 1969 until 1977.

McCarty's career in law and public service included her appointment as the first woman to serve a full, four-year term as U.S. Attorney. She was a champion of women's rights and an advocate of equality and equal pay for women. Her advice to other women who aspired to follow her path: "Don't let anybody tell you that you can’t do it because you're a woman. Don't let anyone convince you."

Honors and awards 1979, Distinguished Alumni Service Award, Indiana University 1979, honorary J.D. degree from Indiana Central College (present-day University of Indianapolis) 1986, honorary Doctor of Law from the IU School of Law–Indianapolis (present-day IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law) 1987, recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award from IU School of Law–Indianapolis 1992, Antoinette Dakin Leach Awards, from Women and the Law Committee, Indiana State Bar Association 1996, first Women in the Law Achievement Award from the Indiana State Bar Association, Women Lawyers Committee 2000, first Outstanding Alumna of the Year award from the Women's Division of the IU School of Law–Indianapolis