description Constance Baker Motley Overview
Constance Baker Motley was an American lawyer and jurist whose career significantly advanced civil rights. She gained prominence for her legal work defending Black voters challenging discriminatory practices during the mid-20th century. Notably, she achieved a landmark victory in *United States v. Harris*, successfully arguing against literacy tests used to disenfranchise African Americans.
Later, Motley became the first Black woman appointed to a federal judgeship, serving on the District Court for the District of Columbia from 1966 until her retirement in 1999. Her work impacted legal strategy and access to justice for marginalized communities.
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When did Constance Baker Motley become a federal judge?
Constance Baker Motley was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This historic appointment made her the first African American woman to serve on the federal judiciary. She eventually became the court's Chief Judge, serving until her death in 2005.
What landmark civil rights cases did Constance Baker Motley argue?
As a key attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Motley argued ten cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning nine of them. She famously wrote the original complaint in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case that ended school segregation. She also successfully represented James Meredith in his legal battle to enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962.
Did Constance Baker Motley ever serve in elected office?
Yes, before becoming a federal judge, Constance Baker Motley served in the New York State Senate. In 1964, she was elected to the state senate, becoming the first African American woman to hold that position. The following year, she was elected as the first female President of the Borough of Manhattan.
Who appointed Constance Baker Motley to her first major judicial post?
While President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her to the federal bench, her first judicial appointment came from New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. In 1965, Rockefeller appointed her to the New York City Civil Court. This made her the first woman to hold a high-ranking judicial role in New York's state courts.
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