Sarah Weddington

Full Name: Sarah Weddington
Other surnames: Ragle,
Date of birth: February 5, 1945
Date of death: December 26, 2021

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Counties in District
H	37-B	Jan 11, 1977 - Sep 1, 1977	65th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾	Democrat	Austin / Travis	Travis
H	37-2	Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 11, 1977	64th	Democrat	Austin / Travis	Travis
H	37-2	Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975	63rd	Democrat	Austin / Travis	Travis

(1) Proclamations, 9/14/1977 and 11/15/1977, ordering a special election in House District 37B on 11/8/1977, and second special election on 12/10/1977, to serve out the unexpired term of the Honorable Sarah Weddington. Governor Dolph Briscoe. November 15, 1977 September 14, 1977
(2) Mary Jane Bode, in special election 12/10/1977, sworn 12/21/1977, succeeded Sarah R. Weddington, resigned 9/1/1977. First session was 65th 2nd Called Session. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) Weddington resignation letter dated 9/2/1977, effective as of midnight, 9/1/1977. Texas House of Representatives, Chief Clerk's Office.
(4) Special election 11/8/1977, runoff 12/10/1977. Texas Secretary of State - Election Dates Including Special Elections, 1966-2001.

Terms of Service top

House District 37-B
Jan 11, 1977 - Sep 1, 1977
Legislatures: 65th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Austin / Travis
Counties in district: Travis

House District 37-2
Jan 14, 1975 - Jan 11, 1977
Legislatures: 64th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Austin / Travis
Counties in district: Travis

House District 37-2
Jan 9, 1973 - Jan 14, 1975
Legislatures: 63rd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Austin / Travis
Counties in district: Travis

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

63rd Legislature, R.S., HSR 46. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
64th Legislature, R.S., HSR 190. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
64th Legislature, R.S., SR 133. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
65th Legislature, R.S., HSR 109. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.

Biographical Sketches

Photo and biographical sketch, Women Before the Courts and Roe v. Wade, pp. 122-125. Austin Lawyers: A Legacy of Leadership and Service, 2005.
Photo and biographical sketch, Sarah Ragle Weddington, pp. 162-165. First woman from Austin and Travis County elected to the Texas House of Representatives. Capitol Women: Texas Female Legislators, 1923-1999, 2000.
Oral history interview in LRL collection, 976.4 H449G 2021. Growing Up in the Lone Star State: Notable Texans Remember Their Childhoods, 2021.
Oral history interviews available in Oral History Collection, University of North Texas.
Book in LRL collection, 618.88 W413. A Question of Choice, 1993.
Photo and biographical sketch, "Texas Government Insider," 10/24/2008. Strategic Partnerships, Inc., 2008.
Sarah Ragle Weddington. Texas State Cemetery.
Book in LRL collection, 301.412 T313W. Texas Women in Politics, 1977.
About Sarah Weddington. Includes Summary Bio, Early Years, Attorney Years, Campaign for Public Office, Legislative Years, General Counsel Years, White House Years, and Current Activities. Weddington Center.

Other Resources

Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974, 1975.
Notice of death, 2/1/2022. Speaker of the House.

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

Named one of 'The Best'. Best and Worst Legislators 1975.
Named 'Missing in Action'. Best and Worst Legislators 1977.

Photographs

Photograph. Sarah Weddington, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sarah Weddington, 64th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sarah Weddington, 63rd Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

63rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
64th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
65th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

65th R.S. - 1977 Elections State Affairs State Affairs Subcommittee on Coastal Zone Management State Affairs Subcommittee on Resolutions State Affairs Subcommittee on State Institutions (Chair) State Affairs Subcommittee on State Lands and Buildings State Affairs Subcommittee on Utilities Legislation (Chair)
64th R.S. - 1975 Board of Managers Criminal Jurisprudence Elections Functions of the Judiciary, Select Impeachment, Select Joint City/Legislative Judicial Qualifications Commission Study, Special
63rd R.S. - 1973 Appropriations Appropriations Subcommittee on State Aircraft Pooling Appropriations Subcommittee on State Employees (Chair) Citizens' Conference on State Legislatures, Steering, Special (Operations of the House) Criminal Jurisprudence Insurance Reorganization and Modernization of Public Education (Committee of 24), Interim (Vice Chair)

This website is a work in progress. Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

Party information is not available for the 1st-11th Legislatures.

Have a question, comment or contribution? Email the Library or call 512-463-1252.

Many photos in Texas Legislators: Past and Present are used with permission of the Texas State Preservation Board. For permission to reproduce these photos, please contact the Texas State Preservation Board graphics coordinator at 512-475-3060.