It is often said that history repeats itself, but when it comes to the story of retired Judge Denise Langford-Morris, her story is one of such depth and impact that continues to keep pushing forward today, as she is an official inductee into the 2023 Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
Pride, determination, and resilience are all pillars of Langford’s character, all of which she had embodied throughout her law career, beforehand, and beyond. “I am feeling hugely honored, humbled and grateful that I am being recognized having stood on the shoulders of so many wonderful and great women,” she expressed. “I’m overwhelmed and can’t believe that I’m actually going into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame with so many fantastic women.”
“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again!” – Sojourner Truth. With the same spirit of unyielding determination and pride, Michigan Women Forward stands as a beacon since 2018, proudly housing the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. Born in 1983 from the dreams and aspirations of a cohort of trailblazing women, notably including the spirited Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks as a part of the first inductee class led by the visionary Gladys Beckwith, this Hall of Fame has been a testament to the indomitable spirit of Michigan’s women.
“Sojourner Truth has made so many wonderful contributions to this world and I was looking back at some of the women that have received this honor, and it is absolutely amazing, the stories they have to tell,” said Langford-Morris honoring those who have dared to dream and achieved against all odds. This is more than a mere commemoration; it is a clarion call to the next generation of female leaders, beckoning them to continue the legacy of trailblazing and greatness. Each induction into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame is not just an accolade; it is a narrative of struggle, perseverance, and monumental accomplishment.
“Michigan Women Forward is proud to recognize women who have made significant contributions in their fields. They have set the bar for excellence and paved the way for those who will follow in their footsteps” said Carolyn Cassin, MWF President and CEO.
The criteria for this honor is as profound as the legacy it upholds. It seeks women whose achievements have woven themselves into the very fabric of our society, enhancing the cultural, economic, health, educational, and political tapestry of our community. These are women whose actions have uplifted the status of women in society and have altered history’s trajectory, not just in Michigan but across the globe.
Once upon a time, in a world where the paths for women were limited and their voices often silenced, certain rights like voting or serving on a jury were mere dreams. However, the life and achievements of retired Judge Langford stand as a powerful testament to the journey from those restrictive pasts to a more equitable present and point towards an even brighter future. Langford-Morris retirement turns the page on a chapter of remarkable firsts. Her career is a mosaic of groundbreaking achievements, distinguished by her role as the first African American appointed to the Oakland County Circuit Court. This pioneering stride was further illuminated when she ascended as the first Black leader elected at the countywide level in Oakland County.
Her journey to success was far from the conventional fairytale beginning; it was one paved with unique challenges and resilience. the beginning aspect of her life isn’t just a backstory; it’s a crucial part of her-story – a story of preservation as she began her journey as a teen mom, “I started my quest having graduated from Cass Tech High School with a 6-month-old,” Langford-Morris shared. After graduating from Cass with only missing two days of school as a young mom, she started her collegiate career at Highland Park Community College and graduated with an associate degree in 1973. Langford-Morris went on to Wayne State University where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree and then to law school at the University of Detroit Mercy, “Where my portrait hangs today, and I am the first woman to have a portrait unveiled [at UofD].” Though her goal wasn’t specifically to dive into practicing law, fate had something else in store, “I worked as a social worker investigating child abuse neglect, adult abuse neglect, and back when I did it I presented the cases in the Wayne County Juvenile Court before they had prosecutors doing it, social workers did it,” she explained. “So, that really got me involved with the law and so many people encouraged me to go to law school. So, right after I finished my master’s I started at Detroit Mercy law,” where she finished in 3 years all while continuing to work full time as an investigative social worker.
Her journey is a narrative of persistent triumph. Over her three decades on the Oakland County Circuit Court bench, she exemplified steadfast commitment and resilience, continually setting new benchmarks of excellence. Now, as we look back on her illustrious career, Denise Langford-Morris stands not merely as a figure of her era but as an enduring symbol of inspiration and transformation, whose legacy will resonate for years to come as she now reigns as an arbitrator and mediator with Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc (JAMS), “When I joined last year there were seven arbitrators and mediators and I was the first Black to serve at the Detroit office in Downtown Detroit where I handle arbitrations all across the country, which is a lot like the work I did as a judge, and I mediate locally.” Founded in 1979, JAMS is the world’s largest private alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider.
Since her “one-week retirement” as she calls it, Langford-Morris indeed continues to jam on as she has also started her own business, another first for her, “This year I kicked off my first business in my entire life, I have a subchapters, Langford Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) PC, so I’m not thinking about retiring and I am loving it.”
This accolade, considered as a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, is more than a medal or a certificate. It is a recognition of a lifetime of service, of enduring impact, a symbol of a journey marked by relentless striving and unparalleled achievements. The Hall of Fame honors both the ancestors whose shoulders we stand upon and the living heroines who walk among us, continuing to inspire and lead.
In celebrating these phenomenal Michigan women, it’s not just honoring their past; it’s lighting a torch for future leaders to carry forward. Their stories are not just tales of personal success but are the chapters of a larger narrative that has changed the course of history in Michigan and beyond, for in their stories, we find the roadmap to our own potential greatness.
“If I can do it, if I can get through law school with a baby and work full-time, so can the next,” expressed Langford-Denise. “There’s nothing brilliant about me but I persevered. I took it one day at a time, one semester at a time, and I never thought about dropping out. So, I often tell young women to never lose touch with those coming behind you so they can join beside you and help continue our fight for women’s equality.”
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