Introduction: Trailblazer for Women and Civil Rights
Constance Baker Motley was a pioneering lawyer, civil rights activist, and judge who shattered gender and racial barriers.
As the first African American woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court and to serve as a federal judge, Motley opened doors for generations of women to pursue legal careers and ascend to the bench.
Fighting Segregation and Discrimination with the NAACP
From 1945 to 1964, Motley worked tirelessly for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, litigating school desegregation and public housing discrimination cases.
She played a key role in landmark civil rights cases like Brown v. Board of Education, which ended racial segregation in public schools. Motley argued 10 cases before the Supreme Court and won 9 of them, establishing major legal precedents against Jim Crow laws.
Blazing a Trail to the Federal Bench
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Motley as the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge.
She later became the first woman and African American chief judge of the Southern District Court of New York. As a judge, Motley mentored generations of women lawyers, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Inspiring Women Judges for Decades
Motley’s influence on the judiciary remains profound decades after her 2005 death. Today, women comprise 40% of federal judges, including 4 Supreme Court justices.
Motley’s intelligence, fortitude and commitment to equal justice under the law continue to inspire women judges and lawyers. In Motley’s own words, “Excellence is the best deterrent to racism and sexism.”
