No men on Atlanta federal appeals court panel for first time

ATLANTA - Since the federal appeals court in Atlanta began hearing cases in 1866, there has been one constant on its three-judge panels: men. <br> <br> But this week, for what is believed to be the first time in the court&#39;s history, three female judges presided. <br> <br> Senior Judge Phyllis Kravitch and Judges Rosemary Barkett and Frank Hull, whose first name was passed down from her great-grandmother, heard arguments in dozens of cases at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for four days, ending Thursday. <br> <br> Kravitch said it made her recall her appointment to the court in 1979, when she was one of only two woman circuit court judges in the country. <br> <br> ``This week was significant in an historical context,&#39;&#39; she said. ``It was notable to me in that it made me realize how far we had come.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Perhaps fittingly, the first two cases the 11th Circuit panel heard on Monday were argued by four lawyers all of whom were women. <br> <br> The 11th Circuit hears cases that originate from Georgia, Alabama and Florida.