Virginia Dill McCarty

(Dec. 15, 1924-May 26, 2006). Born in Plainfield, Indiana, Virginia Ann Dill McCarty graduated first in her class from Plainfield High School in 1942. She earned her JD from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 1950, first in her class and editor of the Indiana Law Journal. Finding only menial jobs due to her sex, she raised her two children full time before returning to law in the 1960s.

From 1964-1967, McCarty served as deputy and assistant to Indiana Attorney General John J. Dillon. She was appointed to the Indiana Board of Law Examiners from 1971-1976. During this time, she founded the Indiana Woman’s Political Caucus, also serving as its first president.

McCarty was the first woman to be nominated by a major party for both judge in Marion County and for attorney general in Indiana. Though she did not win either election, she was nominated by Senator Birch Bayh in 1977 as U.S. district attorney for Indiana’s Southern District. When Jimmy Carter appointed her in 1979, she became the first woman to serve a complete term as a U.S. attorney. In 1984, she became the first Indiana woman to run for governor, proudly campaigning on little funds but ultimately losing in the Democratic primary. She was passionate about gender issues that involved equal pay and housing discrimination.

Her achievements were widely recognized, earning the Indianapolis Star’s “Woman of the Year” and Indiana University’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award, among others. McCarty practiced law at Landman and Beatty up to her death at age 81.

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