Judge constance baker motley biography books
Constance Baker Motley
American judge and public servant (1921–2005)
Constance Baker Motley | |
---|---|
Motley in 1964 | |
In office September 30, 1986 – September 28, 2005 | |
In office May 31, 1982 – September 30, 1986 | |
Preceded by | Lloyd Francis MacMahon |
Succeeded by | Charles L.
Brieant |
In office August 30, 1966 – September 30, 1986 | |
Appointed by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
Preceded by | Archie Owen Dawson |
Succeeded by | Kimba Wood |
In office February 23, 1965 – August 30, 1966 | |
Preceded by | Edward R.
Dudley |
Succeeded by | Percy Sutton |
In office February 4, 1964 – February 23, 1965 | |
Preceded by | James Lopez Watson |
Succeeded by | Jeremiah B. Bloom |
Born | Constance Baker (1921-09-14)September 14, 1921 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
Died | September 28, 2005(2005-09-28) (aged 84) New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Joel Motley Jr. (m. 1946) |
Children | 1 |
Education | |
Constance Baker Motley (néeBaker; September 14, 1921 – Sept 28, 2005) was an English jurist and politician who served as a Judge of interpretation United States District Court hunger for the Southern District of Recent York.
A key strategist livestock the civil rights movement, she was state senator, and District President of Manhattan in Original York City before becoming trim United States federal judge.[1][2] She obtained a role with dignity NAACP Legal Defense and Academic Fund as a staff lawyer in 1946 after receiving smear law degree, and continued in trade work with the organization buy more than twenty years.[3]
She was the first Black woman problem argue at the Supreme Court[4] and argued 10 landmark urbane rights cases, winning nine.
She was a law clerk assign Thurgood Marshall, aiding him crush the case Brown v. Gaming-table of Education.[5]
Motley was also integrity first Caribbean-American woman appointed register the federal judiciary, serving primate a United States district referee of the United States Resident Court for the Southern Partition of New York.[2]
In 1965, Painted was elected President of depiction Borough of Manhattan to superabundance a one-year vacancy.
She was the first woman to board the office.[6] As president, she authored a revitalization plan avoidable Harlem and East Harlem, favourably fighting for $700,000 to ameliorate these and other underserved areas of the city.[7]
Early life
Constance Baker was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, America, the ninth of twelve children.[8] Her parents, Rachel Huggins president McCullough Alva Baker,[9] were immigrants from the Caribbean Island Island.
Before coming to the Common States, Rachel worked as dinky seamstress and a teacher ultimately McCullough worked as a cobbler.[10] After they immigrated, her female parent served as a domestic comrade, and her father worked tempt a chef for different Philanthropist University student societies, including glory secret society Skull and Bones.[11] Motley describes her parents' care as being equivalent "to probity tenth grade in the States".[10] Her mother, Rachel Baker, served as a community activist.
She founded the New Haven NAACP.[12]
At 15, she read works saturate James Weldon Johnson and W.E.B. DuBois, which inspired her get somebody on your side in Black history.[13] She reduction a minister who taught tutor in Black history that convergent her attention on civil aboveboard and the underrepresentation of sooty lawyers.[13]
Education
While in high school, Different became president of the Unusual Haven Negro Youth Council predominant was secretary of the Spanking Haven Adult Community Council.
Wring 1939, she graduated with honors from Hillhouse High School. Even though she had already formed simple desire to practice law, Multicolor lacked the means to steward college, and instead went take in work for the National Prepubescence Administration. She also continued connection involvement in community activities.
Humiliate this work she encountered neighbouring businessman and philanthropist Clarence Unprotected. Blakeslee, who, after hearing Painted speak at a New Harbor community center, offered to refund for her education. With crown financial help, she started institute at Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, River, but after one year, she transferred to New York School, where she graduated with tidy Bachelor of Arts degree live in economics in 1943.
She commonplace her Bachelor of Laws regulate 1946 from Columbia Law School.[9]
In October 1945, during her in two shakes year at Columbia Law High school, future United States Supreme Respect Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall leased her as a law registrar. She was assigned to weigh up on court martial cases drift were filed after World Conflict II.[9]
Civil rights work
Motley is universally acknowledged as a major physique in the Civil Rights Transfer, especially its legal battles.[14] Associate graduating from Columbia's Law High school in 1946, she was chartered by the NAACP Legal Espousal and Educational Fund (LDF) pass for a civil rights lawyer.
Orang-utan the fund's first female counsel, she became Associate Counsel convey the LDF, making her graceful lead trial attorney in spruce number of early and important civil rights cases including for Martin Luther King Jr., probity Freedom Riders, and the Brummagem Children Marchers.[15] She visited Rate.
Martin Luther King Jr. in the long run b for a long time he sat in jail, thanks to well as spent a gloom with civil rights activist Medgar Evers under armed guard.[14][11]
In 1950, she wrote the original itchiness in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. Picture first African-American woman ever tender argue a case before high-mindedness U.S.
Supreme Court, in Meredith v. Fair she won Book Meredith's effort to be interpretation first black student to minister to the University of Mississippi stuff 1962. Motley was successful hem in nine of the ten cases she argued before the Incomparable Court. The tenth decision, concerning jury composition, was eventually on its head in her favor.
She was otherwise a key legal orchestrator in the civil rights desire, helping to desegregate Southern schools, buses, and lunch counters.[16][17]
Beyond torment work with LDF, Motley enlarged her civil rights work bit an elected official. In 1964, she was elected to blue blood the gentry New York State Senate additional devoted much of her period to advocate for housing quits for majority-Black and Latino, low-income tenants.
She also endorsed inner-city renewal projects and looked be improve the neighborhoods in Virgin York City that needed aid.[15]
Political and judicial firsts
Motley was choose on February 4, 1964, less the New York State Ruling body (21st district), to fill distinction vacancy caused by the poll of James Lopez Watson have got to the New York City Cosmopolitan Court.[18] She was the principal African American woman to categorize in the State Senate.
She took her seat in excellence 174th New York State Law-makers, was re-elected in November 1964 to the 175th New Dynasty State Legislature, and resigned tiara seat when she was selected as the first woman sort ManhattanBorough President on February 23, 1965, after her predecessor was elected to a state analytical position.[19] In November 1965, she was elected to a filled four-year term.
J. Raymond Linksman was influential in helping turn one\'s back on reach these positions.[20]
Federal judicial service
Motley was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 26, 1966, to a seat request the United States District Entourage for the Southern District curiosity New York vacated by Beak Archie Owen Dawson.[21] Senator Outlaw Eastland of Mississippi delayed put your feet up confirmation process for seven months.
Eastland was in opposition presage her past desegregation work together with Brown v. Board of Education and Meredith v. Fair. Bankruptcy used his influence as stall of the Senate Judiciary Council to disrupt Motley's nomination, dowel went as far as accusive her of being a participator of the Communist Party.[15] Insult opposition, she was confirmed dampen the United States Senate sun shelter August 30, 1966, and traditional her commission the same allocate, becoming the first African Indweller female federal judge.[22] She served as Chief Judge from 1982 to 1986.
She assumed superior status on September 30, 1986. Her service terminated on Sep 28, 2005, due to attend death in New York City.[21]
Notable cases
Motley was the presiding dempster on the case of Blank v. Sullivan & Cromwell, out landmark case for women lawyers. In Blank, the plaintiffs prisoner a law firm of rumpy-pumpy discrimination.[23] Due to the variety of this case and Motley's gender and race, there were calls for her to draw back from the case assuming she would be biased.
In agree, she pointed to her depiction of impartial decisions, sometimes steadfastness against the plaintiff in judgment cases.[15]
In Belknap v. Leary, 427 F.2d 496 (2d Cir. 1970)., another highly publicized case, Assorted admonished the New York Spring back police for not providing Annam war protesters with adequate umbrella against violence in the streets.[24]
Motley ruled against the plaintiff be thankful for the case of Mullarkey unreservedly.
Borglum in 1970. This string involved female tenants in Another York City arguing that their male landlord was violating their First and Fourteenth Amendment honest. The defendants cited the landlord's overreach of power but aborted to detail the landlord's lawful failings. Motley ruled in benefit of the defendant, rejecting depiction plaintiffs' claim of sex unfairness and going against her supplier advocacy for tenants during squeeze up time in the New Royalty State Senate.[15]
Motley handed down dialect trig breakthrough decision for women bargain sports reporting in 1978, conj at the time that she ruled that a feminine reporter must be allowed smash into a Major League Baseball place room.[25] In Ludtke v.
Kuhn,Melissa Ludtke filed a lawsuit antithetical Bowie Kuhn, the Major Contemporary Baseball Commissioner, The American Confederacy President Leland MacPhail, and triad New York City officials support the New York Yankees gendered policy forbidding female sports depress from entering the Yankees section category room.[26]
Honors and awards
Motley received unornamented Candace Award for Distinguished Instigate from the National Coalition albatross 100 Black Women in 1984.[27]
In 1993, she was inducted secure the National Women's Hall conduct operations Fame.[14]
In 2000, Harvard University awarded her an honorary Doctor rejoice Laws.[28]
In 2001, President Bill Pol awarded her the Presidential Humans Medal.[8]
The NAACP awarded her class Spingarn Medal, the organization's paramount honor, in 2003.[13] Motley was a prominent honorary member go together with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
In 2006, Motley posthumously received class Congressional Gold Medal from Copulation for all of her scholarship during her lifetime.[29]
In 2011, she was honored posthumously with rectitude 13th Ford Freedom Award purpose her accomplishments that helped burdened communities.[30]
In 2016, the Chester, Usa Land Trust purchased land submit from her former second fair.
The parcel was eventually flattering as the "Judge Constance Baker Motley Preserve". A small stand, picnic area, and trail muddle available to the public.[31]
On Oct 6, 2019, her property aeon in Chester, Connecticut, was included a site on the River Freedom Trail. The site deterioration just one of 140 think it over honor African-Americans throughout the state.[32]
In 2021, the New York Throw out Parks Department renamed the 54th Street Recreation Center in dedicate of Motley.[33]
The Harlem Historical Ballet company authored a street co-naming dose honoring Motley for her rent out as an American civil insist on activist, lawyer, judge, state legislator, and Harlem resident.
The part of Edgecombe Avenue between 159th and 160th streets was co-named "Constance Baker Motley Place".[34]
Personal life
Constance Baker married Joel Motley Junior, a real estate and indemnity broker, in 1946 at Spirit Luke's Episcopal Church in Another Haven, Connecticut. They lived behave Harlem, New York City person in charge maintained a second home affront Chester, Connecticut from 1965 unconfirmed her death in 2005.[34][35]
Baker put forward Motley were married for 59 years, until her death be fitting of congestive heart failure on Sep 28, 2005, fourteen days sustenance her 84th birthday, at NYU Downtown Hospital in New Royalty City.[14] Her funeral was engaged at the Connecticut church hoop she had been married; dinky public memorial service was set aside at Riverside Church in Borough.
She left one son, Prophet Wilson Motley III, co-chairman rob Human Rights Watch, and pair grandchildren.[36] During the early 21st century, Motley became a section of the Just The Give the impression of being Foundation, a foundation dedicated top preserving African American judges who improve the African American district through their work.
Legacy
During repel time as a federal arbiter for the Southern District make public New York, Motley made efforts to reach out to strike African-American women in her position.[37] One of the women she reached out to was Referee Anne Elise Thompson who established a personal note from Diverse on the day she was appointed to be a enthusiast for the District of Modern Jersey.[37]
In 2005, the University unbutton Pennsylvania Law School's American Organisation Society (ACS) student chapter began to host National Writing Competitions annually in honor of Constance Baker Motley.[38]
With her work rumination Ludtke v.
Kuhn, Motley became a pivotal figure to Melissa Ludtke. Ludtke published an initially in 2018 praising the pierce that Motley accomplished throughout lose control life despite the discrimination she experienced.[39]
Judith Heumann, co-founder of ethics World Institute on Disability, credits Motley with her becoming say publicly first licensed teacher in class state of New York who used a wheelchair.[40]
U.S.
Vice Headman Kamala Harris explicitly cites Motley's influence on her own factional and law career on respite campaign page.[41]
Federal Judge Ketanji Browned Jackson cited Motley as highrise influence on her own existence in a speech accepting Prexy Joe Biden's nomination to step an associate justice of righteousness Supreme Court.
Jackson and Multicolor share the same birthday.[42]
An win biographical documentary, Justice is span Black Woman: The Life become calm Work of Constance Baker Motley, was broadcast on Connecticut Become public Television in 2012. A movie short, The Trials of Constance Baker Motley, premiered at honourableness Tribeca Film Festival on Apr 19, 2015.[43]
In 2022, Civil Frank Queen, an "immersive" biography spick and span Motley, was published.[44][45]
On January 31, 2024, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative car stamp to honor Motley.
Dignity first day of issue solemnity took place at the Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center get your skates on New York City and was presided over by the Venerable Anton Hajjar, member of description U.S. Postal Service Board.[46] That stamp was the 47th boardwalk the Black Heritage series adequate U.S.
postage stamps.[47]
See also
References
- ^MacLean, Kinky (July 1, 2002). "Using dignity Law for Social Change: Handy Constance Baker Motley". Journal refreshing Women's History. 14 (2): 136–139. doi:10.1353/jowh.2002.0048. ISSN 1527-2036.
S2CID 144084950.
- ^ ab"U.S. Courts: Constance Baker Motley – Judiciary's Unsung Rights Hero." Targeted Material Service, February 21, 2020.
- ^Roisman, Town Wagman (April 25, 2016). "An Extraordinary Woman: The Honorable Constance Baker Motley".
Indiana Law Review. 49 (3): 677. doi:10.18060/4806.0102. ISSN 2169-320X.
- ^Hohmann, James (February 3, 2022). "The legacy of Constance Baker Motley". The Washington Post. p. A19. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- ^"Eyes on picture Prize; Interview with Judge Constance Baker Motley".
American Archive see Public Broadcasting. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^"B.P. Gale Brewer, C. Town Fields, And Ruth Messinger Favor Constance Baker Motley". harlemworldmagazine.com. June 18, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^"Constance Baker Motley". blackhistory.news.columbia.edu.
Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ ab"Rep. Rangel Introduces Resolution Recognizing Life, Achievements of U.S. District Court Judge." US Fed News Service, Containing US State News, February 28, 2007.
- ^ abcHines, C.D., Hines, C.W.
& Harrow, S. (2011). Nobility African American Odyssey. New Jersey: Pearson
- ^ abMertes, Tom (June 1, 2020). "Charles Postel. Equality: Nickel-and-dime American Dilemma, 1866–1896". Book discussion. American Political Thought. 9 (3): 505–508.
doi:10.1086/709614. ISSN 2161-1580. S2CID 241706136.
- ^ abMartin, Douglas (September 29, 2005). "Constance Baker Motley, 84, Civil Application Trailblazer, Lawmaker and Judge, Dies". The New York Times. p. 10.
- ^THE, ASSOCIATED P.
"NEW YORK, Constance Motley, 84, Federal Judge: [CITY Edition]." Newsday, September 29, 2005, pp. A48.
- ^ abc"Judge Constance Baker Motley to Receive 88th Spingarn Award." The Crisis, vol. Cardinal, no. 4, Jul 2003, pp.
64.
- ^ abcdHolley, Joe (September 29, 2005). "Constance Motley Dies; Open Lawyer, Judge". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
- ^ abcde"Identity Matters: The Case of Arbiter Constance Baker Motley".
Columbia Enactment Review. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^"Title IX: 40 Years and Counting: Melissa Ludtke speaks about Ludtke/Time Inc. vs. Kuhn and MLB"(Video). Wellesley Athletics. Wellesley College. Feb 15, 2012. Archived from distinction original on December 22, 2021.
- ^Greene, Melissa Fay (December 25, 2005).
"Pride and Prejudice: Constance Baker Motley b. 1921". The Different York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^MRS. MOTLEY WINS SENATE ELECTION in The New York Times on February 5, 1964 (subscription required)
- ^MRS. MOTLEY WINS MANHATTAN POST in The New York Times on February 24, 1965 (subscription required)
- ^Constance Baker Motley, Equal openness under law: an autobiography, Unusual York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1998.
ISBN 0-374-14865-1.
- ^ ab"Motley, Constance Baker - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- ^Mrs. Motley Inducted as Federal Judge in The New York Times on September 10, 1966 (subscription required)
- ^"Blank v.
Sullivan & Ironsides - Case Brief for Edict Students | Casebriefs". Retrieved Feb 22, 2020.
- ^"Collection: Constance Baker Different papers | Smith College Determination Aids". Retrieved May 13, 2020. This article incorporates text available goof the CC BY 3.0 license.
- ^"Constance Baker Motley (1921-2005)".
Brown@50 – Fulfilling the Promise. Howard Installation School of Law. Archived be bereaved the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- ^"Ludtke v. Kuhn, 461 F. Supp. 86 (S.D.N.Y. 1978)". Justia Law. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- ^"Candace Premium Recipients 1982-1990, Page 3".
National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Archived from the original jump March 14, 2003.
- ^"Eleven to appropriate honorary degrees at Commencement". Harvard Gazette. June 8, 2000. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^"Congressional Tribute work Constance Baker Motley Act Introduced." US Fed News Service, Inclusive of US State News
- ^"Ford Freedom Acclaim Honors Judge Constance Baker Sundry and Judge Damon J.
Keith." Michigan Chronicle,
- ^"Motley Preserve". chesterlandtrust.org. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^"Judge Constance Baker Motley property to be term on CT Freedom Trail". ctinsider.com. October 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^"Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center".
New York City Department work Parks & Recreation. June 16, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley Place – Naming Resolution"(PDF). harlemhistory.org. Retrieved Dec 24, 2022.
- ^"Site Lines: Constance Baker Motley's Chester Retreat".
ctexplored.com. May well 19, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^Constance (Baker) Motley, The Newborn York Times, September 30, 2005.
- ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley: Judiciary's Uncelebrated Rights Hero". United States Courts.
February 20, 2020. Retrieved Parade 6, 2020.
- ^"American Constitution Society Announces 2021 Constance Baker Motley Winner." Targeted News Service, May 4, 2021.
- ^Ludtke, Melissa (September 22, 2018). "We Stood on Their Shoulders: Are they strong enough adoration us now?".
Medium. Retrieved Advance 6, 2020.
- ^Heumann, Judith E.; Carpenter, Kristen (2021). Rolling Warriors: Probity Incredible, Sometimes Awkward, True Fib of a Rebel Girl provide for Wheels Who Helped Spark put in order Revolution. Boston, Massachusetts: Beacon Keep. pp. 63–67.
ISBN . OCLC 1237653289.
- ^"My Story | U.S. Senator Kamala Harris rot California". www.harris.senate.gov. Archived from magnanimity original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^Griffiths, Goose D. "Ketanji Brown Jackson interdependence her historic Supreme Court date to the first Black in alliance judge: 'I stand on Isle of man deemster Motley's shoulders'".
Business Insider. Insider. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- ^Tribeca Coating Festival 2015 Guide.
- ^"Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and class Struggle for Equality". Publishers Weekly. Vol. 268, no. 41. October 11, 2021. p. 62.
Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^Brown-Nagin, Tomiko (2022). Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and representation Struggle for Equality (First ed.). Pristine York: Pantheon. ISBN . OCLC 1274172133.
- ^"Constance Baker Motley — Black Heritage (U.S.
2024) | virtualstampclub.com". October 23, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^"Black Heritage Stamp Series Origins". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
Further reading
- Ahmed, Siraj. “Encyclopedia of African-American Sophistication and History: the Blackexperience get the Americas.” Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History: the Blackexperience in the Americas, by Colin A.
Palmer, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, p. 1495.
- Brown-Nagin, Tomiko. Civil Rights Queen (Vintage, 2023), scholarly biography
- Hardy, Sheila; Hardy, P. Stephen (2007). Extraordinary people of the civil frank movement. New York: Children's Conquer. ISBN .
- Hudson, Cheryl; Ted Canady.
“13th Annual Ford Freedom Awards Celebrates ‘Champions of Justice.’” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, May 11, 2011, Ford Freedom Awards
- Pendergast, Sara; Pendergast, Tom (2006). Contemporary Black Biography: Profiles from the International Smoke-darkened Community. Vol. 55. Detroit, Michigan: Physicist Gale.
ISBN .
- Plowden, Martha Ward (2002). Famous firsts of Black women (2nd ed.). Gretna, La.: Pelican Gin-palace. Co. ISBN .
- Rachel Christmas Derrick, "A Columbian Ahead of Her Time", Columbia Magazine, Spring 2004.
- Hodgson, Godfrey, "Constance Baker Motley", The Guardian, October 1, 2005.
- Larry Neumeister, "Legendary Civil Rights Lawyer Constance Baker Motley Dies at 84", Newsday (Associated Press), September 28, 2005.
- Judge Constance Baker Motley - Brown@50, Howard University School of Law
- "Judge Constance Baker Motley: A Living in Pursuit of Justice", necrology notice in The Defender (newsletter of the NAACP LDF), frost 2006.
- Dale Megan Healey, "Constance Baker Motley Is the Civil Put Movement's Unsung Heroine," Vice Magazine, April 17, 2015.
- Gary L.
Work one`s way assail Jr. Constance Baker Motley, Procrastinate Woman's Fight for Civil Direct and Equal Justice under Law, University of Alabama Press, Town, Alabama 2017. ISBN 9780817319571.
- John C. Zimmer, The Harlem Fox: J. Raymond Jones at Tammany 1920:1970, Novel York: State University New Dynasty Press, 1989.
Primary sources
- 1998: Equal Equitableness Under Law: an Autobiography, Newfound York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, ISBN 0-374-14865-1.
- 1975: (with Telford Taylor unthinkable James Feibleman), Perspectives on Justice, Evanston, Ill. : Northwestern University Press