Constance Motley Biography | Civil Rights Attorney and Federal Judge

Constance Baker Motley

Born: September 14, 1921
Died: September 28, 2005
Place of Birth: New Haven, Connecticut

Major Notes:

Constance Motley was the first African American woman to be appointed to a federal judgeship in United States.
Her parents had been emigrants from the Caribbean island Nevis and had twelve children.
Motley's father found work as a cook at Yale University and her mother founded the New Haven chapter of the NAACP.
This gave Constance Motley both an academic background and an insight into American civil rights.
In 1943, she graduated from New York University and later, in 1946, became the first black woman to receive a law degree from Columbia Law School.
Along the way, Motley had been given financial help by Clarence Blakeslee who was very impressed when he heard a speech given by the young student.
Over the next two decades, Motley developed a reputation as an outstanding litigator for civil rights.
She argued a number of cases at the Supreme Court level winning nine out of ten decisions.
One of Constance Motley's best known decisions occurred when she helped James Meredith break segregation at the University of Mississippi.
Motley decided to enter politics and in 1964 became the first black woman to win a seat in the New York State Senate.
Her political career was relatively short when, in 1966, she was made a federal judge by President Lyndon Johnson.
As a judge, Motley made many significant rulings in cases dealing with the US Constitution and other federal laws.
She was appointed to a Chief Justice in 1982 and then to the role of a Senior Justice in 1986.
Constance Motley was presented with a Presidential Citizens Medal by President Clinton in 2001.

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Major Notes:

Constance Motley was the first African American woman to be appointed to a federal judgeship in United States.

Her parents had been emigrants from the Caribbean island Nevis and had twelve children.

Motley's father found work as a cook at Yale University and her mother founded the New Haven chapter of the NAACP.

This gave Constance Motley both an academic background and an insight into American civil rights.

In 1943, she graduated from New York University and later, in 1946, became the first black woman to receive a law degree from Columbia Law School.

Along the way, Motley had been given financial help by Clarence Blakeslee who was very impressed when he heard a speech given by the young student.

Over the next two decades, Motley developed a reputation as an outstanding litigator for civil rights.

She argued a number of cases at the Supreme Court level winning nine out of ten decisions.

One of Constance Motley's best known decisions occurred when she helped James Meredith break segregation at the University of Mississippi.

Motley decided to enter politics and in 1964 became the first black woman to win a seat in the New York State Senate.

Her political career was relatively short when, in 1966, she was made a federal judge by President Lyndon Johnson.

As a judge, Motley made many significant rulings in cases dealing with the US Constitution and other federal laws.

She was appointed to a Chief Justice in 1982 and then to the role of a Senior Justice in 1986.

Constance Motley was presented with a Presidential Citizens Medal by President Clinton in 2001.