Law: The Persons Case Nellie McClung 13 KB Henrietta Muir Edwards 12 KB Irene Parlby 11 KB Louise McKinney 13 KB Emily Murphy 12 KB One of the most famous cases in Canadian legal history--the Persons Case--was brought by five Alberta women--Emily Murphy (Herstory 1974), Nellie McClung (Herstory 1974), Irene Parlby (Herstory 1975), Henrietta Muir Edwards (Herstory 1976), and Louise McKinney ...

The Persons' Case (1929) The 1929 Persons' Case is one of the major achievements by Canadians for Canadians. The Famous 5 succeeded in having women defined as persons in Section 24 of the British North America Act and thereby, eligible for appointment to the Senate. This victory symbolized the right of women to participate in all facets of life, to dream big and to realize their potential. O ...

Background on the 'Persons' Case What prompted the Case Emily Murphy was appointed the first woman police magistrate in 1916. On her first day, Murphy was challenged by a defence lawyer who argued since she was not even a person under British law, she could not presume to sit in judgement against his client. Other lawyers repeated this objection. Later, when various groups recommended Murphy be ...