Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman appointed to the federal bench, died Wednesday at the age of 84. Known as a civil rights lawyer who broke barriers throughout her life, Motley was also the first black woman elected to the New York Senate. In 1950 she prepared the draft complaint for what would become Brown v. Board of Education. In her autobiography, Motley said defeat on the issue never entered her mind: "We all believed that our time had come and that we had to go forward."
September 30, 2005 at 12:00 AM
1 minute read
The original version of this story was published on Law.Com
When she was 15, Constance Baker Motley was turned away from a public beach because she was black. It was only then — even though her mother was active in the NAACP — that the teenager really became interested in civil rights.
She went to law school and found herself fighting racism in landmark segregation cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, the Central High School case in Arkansas and the case that let James Meredith enroll at the University of Mississippi.
Presented by BigVoodoo
Join General Counsel and Senior Legal Leaders at the Premier Forum Designed For and by General Counsel from Fortune 1000 Companies
This conference brings together the industry's most influential & knowledgeable real estate executives from the net lease sector.
Join the industry's top owners, investors, developers, brokers & financiers at THE MULTIFAMILY EVENT OF THE YEAR!
Duane Morris LLP seeks a highly motivated junior associate to join its dynamic and growing Labor and Employment Class Action group in Chicag...
Duane Morris LLP seeks a full-time staff litigation attorney who has practiced between 3-5 years. Experience will include drafting motions, ...
Duane Morris LLP has an immediate opening for a senior level, highly motivated litigation associate to join its dynamic and growing Employme...
MELICK & PORTER, LLP PROMOTES CONNECTICUT PARTNERS HOLLY ROGERS, STEVEN BANKS, and ALEXANDER AHRENS
