Constance Baker Motley

Constance Baker Motley
Walter Albertin (World Telegram & Sun); restored by Adam Cuerden · Public domain · source
Name	Constance Baker Motley
Caption	Motley in 1964
Birth date	14 September 1921
Birth place	New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Death date	28 September 2005
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Fisk University, New York University, Columbia Law School
Occupation	Lawyer, judge, politician
Spouse	Joel Motley Jr.
Party	Democratic

Constance Baker Motley. Constance Baker Motley was an American lawyer, judge, state senator, and borough president. A key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, she was the first African American woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States and became a leading attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Her legal work was instrumental in dismantling Jim Crow laws and securing landmark victories for desegregation and voting rights.

Early life and education

Constance Baker was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to parents who were immigrants from Nevis in the West Indies. Her father worked as a chef for Yale University student societies, exposing her to an academic environment from a young age. After graduating from Hillhouse High School, she was inspired by a speech by George W. Crawford, a prominent Black attorney, to pursue a career in law. A local philanthropist, Clarence W. Blakeslee, was so impressed by a speech she gave that he offered to finance her college education. She initially attended Fisk University, a historically Black university in Nashville, Tennessee, before transferring to New York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1943. She then enrolled at Columbia Law School, graduating with her Bachelor of Laws in 1946.

Legal career with the NAACP

Immediately after law school, Motley began working as a law clerk for Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), which was the legal arm of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She quickly rose to become a key trial attorney and associate counsel for the organization. Working alongside Marshall, Robert L. Carter, and other civil rights lawyers, she played a central role in developing the legal strategy to challenge racial segregation in the United States. Her work at the LDF spanned nearly two decades, during which she became the Fund's first female attorney. She was deeply involved in writing legal briefs for the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education (1954).

Key civil rights cases

Constance Baker Motley argued 10 major civil rights cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, winning nine. She was the first Black woman to appear before the Court, arguing the case of Hamilton v. Alabama in 1962. Her litigation was pivotal in desegregating schools, universities, and public facilities across the South. She successfully represented James Meredith in 1962 in his fight to enroll at the University of Mississippi, a case that required the intervention of federal marshals. She also represented the Freedom Riders and defended Martin Luther King Jr. during his protests in Birmingham, Alabama. Other significant cases included securing the right for Black students to attend the University of Georgia and litigating for the desegregation of lunch counters and public parks.

Political and judicial career

In 1964, Motley entered politics, winning election to the New York State Senate, where she became the first Black woman to serve in that body. The following year, she was elected as the Manhattan Borough President, another first for an African American woman. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated her to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. After contentious confirmation hearings, she was confirmed, becoming the first African American woman appointed as a federal judge. She served with distinction on the bench for over 38 years, achieving senior status in 1986. Her judicial rulings covered a wide range of issues, and she was known for her sharp legal mind and commitment to justice.

Legacy and honors

Constance Baker Motley's legacy is that of a trailblazing jurist and a principal architect of civil rights law. She received numerous honors, including the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP and induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame. In 2001, President Bill Clinton awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal. The Constance Baker Motley Thurgood Marshall Fellowship at her alma mater, Columbia Law School, honors her legacy. Her life and work have been the subject of biographies and documentaries. She is remembered as a formidable advocate who used the law as a tool for social change, paving the way for generations of women and people of color in the legal profession and public service. Category:American civil rights lawyers Category:United States district court judges Category:African-American judges