1921–2005
Civil Rights Lawyer, Judge, and Champion of Equal Justice
Long before she took the bench, Constance Baker Motley stood in courtrooms where history was being decided—and helped shape the outcome.
Constance was a civil rights lawyer, judge, and public servant who played a pivotal role in the fight to end racial segregation. From the late 1940s through the early 1960s, she worked on the front lines of the civil rights movement, using the law to challenge injustice. She became the first African American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and later the first to serve as a federal judge.
Early Life and Education
As a young woman, Constance showed strong academic ability but faced financial barriers to higher education. A local philanthropist recognized her potential and helped fund her studies, allowing her to attend Fisk University and later Columbia University.
Motley went on to earn her law degree from Columbia Law School, where she developed the skills that would define her career. She believed deeply that the law could be used not only to interpret justice, but to advance it.
Fighting Segregation in the Courts
Motley joined the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She worked alongside Thurgood Marshall and other leading civil rights attorneys and became a key figure in the legal battle against segregation.
As a front-line lawyer, Motley personally led litigation that helped integrate major institutions, including the Universities of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. In some cases, Southern governors physically tried to block Black students from entering these schools. Motley met these challenges in court, using careful legal arguments to overcome resistance and enforce constitutional rights.
Her work extended beyond schools. She helped open public parks and other facilities to African Americans and defended the right of minorities to protest peacefully. Through her legal work, she helped dismantle the structures of segregation piece by piece.
Standing Firm in the Face of Resistance
One of the most powerful moments in Motley’s career came during the integration of the University of Mississippi. When James Meredith attempted to enroll, state officials and even the governor tried to prevent his entry.
Motley stood firm. She continued to press the case in court, refusing to be intimidated by political pressure or public hostility. Her persistence helped secure Meredith’s admission, marking a turning point in the fight for educational equality. Moments like this showed not only her legal skill, but also her courage and determination.
Breaking Barriers on the Bench
In 1966, she became the first African American woman appointed as a federal judge. On the bench, she continued to uphold the principles she had fought for as an attorney—fairness, equality, and respect for the law.
Later Work and Legacy
In 1998, Motley published her autobiography, Equal Justice Under Law, reflecting on her life and career. In it, she spoke openly about the sting of racial discrimination and the determination it fueled within her.
Constance Baker Motley showed that the law could be both a profession and a powerful tool for change. Through her work, she helped open doors that had long been closed and ensured that the promise of equal justice moved closer to reality.
Constance Baker Motley, portrait photograph. Chester Higgins Archive. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.