Judith Pomarlen Vladeck (August 1, 1923 – January 8, 2007) was a prominent American labor lawyer and civil rights advocate, particularly on behalf of women.
When the university’s lawyers tried to paint the plaintiff as a troublemaker who devoted too much time to challenging the system, Vladeck responded, "The only way women are tolerated is if they are supine, silent and submissive."
The New York State Court of Appeals decision reflected Vladeck's words when it wrote, "Those who fight for rights are often perceived as troublesome, but the law does not require people to be supine.
"[3] One of her first big legal victories was in 1978 when she represented an engineer at Western Electric - the first female professional hired by the company - in a lawsuit alleging sexual discrimination.
She was profiled in the New York Times, The Institutional Investor, More and Mirabella Magazines, and featured in Stud's Terkel's book Coming of Age.