Annie Coker

Annie Coker (née Stephens) was California’s first African-American female lawyer.

Coker was born on April 7, 1903 to William Morris (d. 1932) and Pauline Logan Stephens (d. 1929) in Oakland, California. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from University of California, Berkeley, and enrolled in UC Berkeley School of Law. Coker was one of the two female students at her time of enrollment.  She graduated in 1929 and was admitted to the State Bar of California.

Coker practiced law for a time in Alexandria, Virginia. By 1939, she returned to California, taking a position at the California Office of Legislative Counsel in Sacramento. She worked there for 25 years until her retirement in 1966.

Coker was married twice. She died on February 17, 1986 in Sacramento.