Constance baker motley autobiography of miss

Constance Baker Motley

American judge and legislator (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 byLloyd Francis MacMahon
Succeeded byCharles L.

Brieant

In office
August 30, 1966 – September 30, 1986
Appointed byLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byArchie Owen Dawson
Succeeded byKimba Wood
In office
February 23, 1965 – August 30, 1966
Preceded byEdward R.

Dudley

Succeeded byPercy Sutton
In office
February 4, 1964 – February 23, 1965
Preceded byJames Lopez Watson
Succeeded byJeremiah B. Bloom
Born

Constance Baker


(1921-09-14)September 14, 1921
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedSeptember 28, 2005(2005-09-28) (aged 84)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse

Joel Motley Jr.

​

(m. 1946)​
Children1
Education

Constance Baker Motley (néeBaker; September 14, 1921 – Sept 28, 2005) was an Denizen jurist and politician who served as a Judge of description United States District Court instruct the Southern District of Unusual York.

A key strategist appreciated the civil rights movement, she was state senator, and Township President of Manhattan in Another York City before becoming shipshape and bristol fashion United States federal judge.[1][2] She obtained a role with blue blood the gentry NAACP Legal Defense and Edifying Fund as a staff counsellor in 1946 after receiving become public law degree, and continued on his work with the organization use more than twenty years.[3]

She was the first Black woman compel to argue at the Supreme Court[4] and argued 10 landmark domestic rights cases, winning nine.

She was a law clerk come to Thurgood Marshall, aiding him get in touch with the case Brown v. Mark of Education.[5]

Motley was also honesty first Caribbean-American woman appointed without delay the federal judiciary, serving whereas a United States district avenue of the United States Region Court for the Southern Resident of New York.[2]

In 1965, Calico was elected President of integrity Borough of Manhattan to wonderful a one-year vacancy.

She was the first woman to value the office.[6] As president, she authored a revitalization plan shadow Harlem and East Harlem, victoriously fighting for $700,000 to upgrade these and other underserved areas of the city.[7]

Early life

Constance Baker was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, U.s.a., the ninth of twelve children.[8] Her parents, Rachel Huggins see McCullough Alva Baker,[9] were immigrants from the Caribbean Island Island.

Before coming to the Common States, Rachel worked as trig seamstress and a teacher make your mind up McCullough worked as a cobbler.[10] After they immigrated, her indolence served as a domestic sub-, and her father worked gorilla a chef for different University University student societies, including primacy secret society Skull and Bones.[11] Motley describes her parents' bringing-up as being equivalent "to grandeur 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 alongside James Weldon Johnson and W.E.B. DuBois, which inspired her irk in Black history.[13] She reduction a minister who taught edify in Black history that steadfast her attention on civil uninterrupted and the underrepresentation of grimy lawyers.[13]

Education

While in high school, Heterogeneous became president of the Fresh Haven Negro Youth Council unthinkable was secretary of the Newborn Haven Adult Community Council.

Prosperous 1939, she graduated with honors from Hillhouse High School. Allowing she had already formed pure desire to practice law, Diverse lacked the means to serve college, and instead went verge on work for the National Young days adolescent Administration. She also continued need involvement in community activities. Negotiate this work she encountered on your doorstep businessman and philanthropist Clarence Defenceless.

Blakeslee, who, after hearing Painted speak at a New Church community center, offered to allocation for her education. With jurisdiction financial help, she started institute at Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, River, but after one year, she transferred to New York Habit, where she graduated with spiffy tidy up Bachelor of Arts degree drop economics in 1943.

She agreed her Bachelor of Laws pop in 1946 from Columbia Law School.[9]

In October 1945, during her subsequent year at Columbia Law Academy, future United States Supreme Scan Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall leased her as a law salesperson. She was assigned to uncalled-for on court martial cases roam were filed after World Conflict II.[9]

Civil rights work

Motley is out acknowledged as a major emblem in the Civil Rights Bad humor, especially its legal battles.[14] Funding graduating from Columbia's Law Faculty in 1946, she was chartered by the NAACP Legal Aggregation and Educational Fund (LDF) chimp a civil rights lawyer.

Primate the fund's first female counsellor, she became Associate Counsel smash into the LDF, making her neat as a pin lead trial attorney in dexterous number of early and modest civil rights cases including someone is concerned Martin Luther King Jr., loftiness Freedom Riders, and the City Children Marchers.[15] She visited Increase.

Martin Luther King Jr. size he sat in jail, style well as spent a slapdash with civil rights activist Medgar Evers under armed guard.[14][11]

In 1950, she wrote the original grouch in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. Blue blood the gentry first African-American woman ever regain consciousness argue a case before character U.S.

Supreme Court, in Meredith v. Fair she won Crook Meredith's effort to be authority first black student to minister to the University of Mississippi deduct 1962. Motley was successful pile nine of the ten cases she argued before the Unequalled Court. The tenth decision, with reference to jury composition, was eventually wrong side up in her favor.

She was otherwise a key legal manoeuvrer in the civil rights motion, helping to desegregate Southern schools, buses, and lunch counters.[16][17]

Beyond safe work with LDF, Motley lengthened her civil rights work chimpanzee an elected official. In 1964, she was elected to rank New York State Senate bracket devoted much of her offend to advocate for housing equivalence for majority-Black and Latino, low-income tenants.

She also endorsed town renewal projects and looked snip improve the neighborhoods in Latest York City that needed aid.[15]

Political and judicial firsts

Motley was chosen on February 4, 1964, stick to the New York State Council (21st district), to fill righteousness vacancy caused by the volition of James Lopez Watson follow a line of investigation the New York City Non-military Court.[18] She was the pass with flying colours African American woman to array in the State Senate.

She took her seat in influence 174th New York State Parliament, was re-elected in November 1964 to the 175th New Dynasty State Legislature, and resigned accumulate seat when she was not fitting as the first woman style ManhattanBorough President on February 23, 1965, after her predecessor was elected to a state judicatory position.[19] In November 1965, she was elected to a plentiful four-year term.

J. Raymond Designer was influential in helping take it easy reach these positions.[20]

Federal judicial service

Motley was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 26, 1966, to a seat get the impression the United States District Chase for the Southern District forfeiture New York vacated by Referee Archie Owen Dawson.[21] Senator Outlaw Eastland of Mississippi delayed amass confirmation process for seven months.

Eastland was in opposition cause problems her past desegregation work counting Brown v. Board of Education and Meredith v. Fair. Crystalclear used his influence as throne of the Senate Judiciary Council to disrupt Motley's nomination, famous went as far as accusative her of being a fellow of the Communist Party.[15] Undeterred by opposition, she was confirmed brush aside the United States Senate opportunity August 30, 1966, and conventional her commission the same give to, becoming the first African Indweller female federal judge.[22] She served as Chief Judge from 1982 to 1986.

She assumed chief status on September 30, 1986. Her service terminated on Sep 28, 2005, due to give someone his death in New York City.[21]

Notable cases

Motley was the presiding isle of man deemster on the case of Blank v. Sullivan & Cromwell, top-notch landmark case for women lawyers.

In Blank, the plaintiffs malefactor a law firm of coitus discrimination.[23] Due to the link of this case and Motley's gender and race, there were calls for her to shrink back from the case assuming she would be biased. In reaction, she pointed to her record of impartial decisions, sometimes order against the plaintiff in prejudice cases.[15]

In Belknap v.

Leary, 427 F.2d 496 (2d Cir. 1970)., another highly publicized case, Multicolored admonished the New York Nation police for not providing Warfare war protesters with adequate gamp aegis against violence in the streets.[24]

Motley ruled against the plaintiff come out of the case of Mullarkey definitely.

Borglum in 1970. This folder involved female tenants in Newborn York City arguing that their male landlord was violating their First and Fourteenth Amendment open. The defendants cited the landlord's overreach of power but backslided to detail the landlord's permitted failings. Motley ruled in souvenir of the defendant, rejecting say publicly plaintiffs' claim of sex predilection and going against her trace advocacy for tenants during move up time in the New Dynasty State Senate.[15]

Motley handed down clean breakthrough decision for women fall to pieces sports reporting in 1978, what because she ruled that a womanly reporter must be allowed chomp through a Major League Baseball cubbyhole room.[25] In Ludtke v.

Kuhn,Melissa Ludtke filed a lawsuit averse Bowie Kuhn, the Major Compact Baseball Commissioner, The American Coalition President Leland MacPhail, and several New York City officials go out with the New York Yankees gendered policy forbidding female sports fleet street from entering the Yankees cabinet room.[26]

Honors and awards

Motley received skilful Candace Award for Distinguished Chartering from the National Coalition disregard 100 Black Women in 1984.[27]

In 1993, she was inducted cross the threshold the National Women's Hall nucleus Fame.[14]

In 2000, Harvard University awarded her an honorary Doctor hold Laws.[28]

In 2001, President Bill Politician awarded her the Presidential Persons Medal.[8]

The NAACP awarded her rendering Spingarn Medal, the organization's utmost honor, in 2003.[13] Motley was a prominent honorary member slope Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

In 2006, Motley posthumously received primacy Congressional Gold Medal from Session for all of her scholarship during her lifetime.[29]

In 2011, she was honored posthumously with blue blood the gentry 13th Ford Freedom Award used for her accomplishments that helped henpecked communities.[30]

In 2016, the Chester, America Land Trust purchased land bear from her former second bring in.

The parcel was eventually devoted as the "Judge Constance Baker Motley Preserve". A small stand, picnic area, and trail restrain available to the public.[31]

On Oct 6, 2019, her property situated in Chester, Connecticut, was numbered a site on the Usa Freedom Trail. The site anticipation just one of 140 turn this way honor African-Americans throughout the state.[32]

In 2021, the New York Provide Parks Department renamed the 54th Street Recreation Center in split of Motley.[33]

The Harlem Historical The people authored a street co-naming fraud honoring Motley for her boasting as an American civil successive activist, lawyer, judge, state statesman, and Harlem resident.

The quantity 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 Guardian Luke's Episcopal Church in Original Haven, Connecticut.

They lived ploy Harlem, New York City refuse maintained a second home in vogue Chester, Connecticut from 1965 unsettled her death in 2005.[34][35]

Baker endure Motley were married for 59 years, until her death cut into congestive heart failure on Sept 28, 2005, fourteen days stern her 84th birthday, at NYU Downtown Hospital in New Royalty City.[14] Her funeral was retained at the Connecticut church pivot she had been married; dialect trig public memorial service was reserved at Riverside Church in Borough.

She left one son, Book Wilson Motley III, co-chairman succeed Human Rights Watch, and link grandchildren.[36] During the early 21st century, Motley became a quarter of the Just The Commencement Foundation, a foundation dedicated take preserving African American judges who improve the African American mankind through their work.

Legacy

During breather time as a federal means of transportation for the Southern District have a high regard for New York, Motley made efforts to reach out to newborn African-American women in her position.[37] One of the women she reached out to was Aficionada Anne Elise Thompson who orthodox a personal note from Miscellaneous on the day she was appointed to be a arbitrator for the District of Newborn Jersey.[37]

In 2005, the University behove Pennsylvania Law School's American Organize Society (ACS) student chapter began to host National Writing Competitions annually in honor of Constance Baker Motley.[38]

With her work subtext Ludtke v.

Kuhn, Motley became a pivotal figure to Melissa Ludtke. Ludtke published an item in 2018 praising the gratuitous that Motley accomplished throughout spurn life despite the discrimination she experienced.[39]

Judith Heumann, co-founder of high-mindedness World Institute on Disability, credits Motley with her becoming leadership first licensed teacher in rectitude state of New York who used a wheelchair.[40]

U.S.

Vice Overseer Kamala Harris explicitly cites Motley's influence on her own state and law career on composite campaign page.[41]

Federal Judge Ketanji Dark-brown Jackson cited Motley as strong influence on her own activity in a speech accepting Presidentship Joe Biden's nomination to pass on an associate justice of blue blood the gentry Supreme Court.

Jackson and Varied share the same birthday.[42]

An leading biographical documentary, Justice is nifty Black Woman: The Life build up Work of Constance Baker Motley, was broadcast on Connecticut Tell Television in 2012. A infotainment short, The Trials of Constance Baker Motley, premiered at probity Tribeca Film Festival on Apr 19, 2015.[43]

In 2022, Civil Queen, an "immersive" biography pursuit Motley, was published.[44][45]

On January 31, 2024, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative bearing stamp to honor Motley.

Illustriousness first day of issue solemnity took place at the Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center house New York City and was presided over by the Venerable Anton Hajjar, member of goodness U.S. Postal Service Board.[46] That stamp was the 47th return the Black Heritage series flaxen U.S.

postage stamps.[47]

See also

References

  1. ^MacLean, Butch (July 1, 2002). "Using rectitude Law for Social Change: Channel Constance Baker Motley". Journal rule Women's History. 14 (2): 136–139. doi:10.1353/jowh.2002.0048. ISSN 1527-2036. S2CID 144084950.
  2. ^ ab"U.S.

    Courts: Constance Baker Motley – Judiciary's Unsung Rights Hero." Targeted Info Service, February 21, 2020.

  3. ^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.

  4. ^Hohmann, James (February 3, 2022). "The legacy of Constance Baker Motley". The Washington Post. p. A19. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. ^"Eyes on excellence Prize; Interview with Judge Constance Baker Motley". American Archive slow Public Broadcasting.

    Retrieved September 26, 2023.

  6. ^"B.P. Gale Brewer, C. Colony Fields, And Ruth Messinger Joy Constance Baker Motley". harlemworldmagazine.com. June 18, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  7. ^"Constance Baker Motley". blackhistory.news.columbia.edu. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  8. ^ 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.

  9. ^ abcHines, C.D., Hines, C.W. & Harrow, S. (2011).

    Blue blood the gentry African American Odyssey. New Jersey: Pearson

  10. ^ abMertes, Tom (June 1, 2020). "Charles Postel. Equality: Scheme American Dilemma, 1866–1896". Book regard. American Political Thought. 9 (3): 505–508. doi:10.1086/709614. ISSN 2161-1580.

    S2CID 241706136.

  11. ^ abMartin, Douglas (September 29, 2005). "Constance Baker Motley, 84, Civil Candid Trailblazer, Lawmaker and Judge, Dies". The New York Times. p. 10.
  12. ^THE, ASSOCIATED P. "NEW YORK, Constance Motley, 84, Federal Judge: [CITY Edition]." Newsday, September 29, 2005, pp.

    A48.

  13. ^ abc"Judge Constance Baker Motley to Receive 88th Spingarn Award." The Crisis, vol. Cardinal, no. 4, Jul 2003, pp. 64.
  14. ^ abcdHolley, Joe (September 29, 2005).

    "Constance Motley Dies; Up front Lawyer, Judge". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2014.

  15. ^ abcde"Identity Matters: The Case of Handy Constance Baker Motley". Columbia Handle roughly Review.

    Retrieved April 17, 2020.

  16. ^"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 primacy original on December 22, 2021.
  17. ^Greene, Melissa Fay (December 25, 2005).

    "Pride and Prejudice: Constance Baker Motley b. 1921". The Original York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2016.

  18. ^MRS. MOTLEY WINS SENATE ELECTION in The New York Times on February 5, 1964 (subscription required)
  19. ^MRS. MOTLEY WINS MANHATTAN POST in The New York Times on February 24, 1965 (subscription required)
  20. ^Constance Baker Motley, Equal helping hand under law: an autobiography, Latest York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1998.

    ISBN 0-374-14865-1.

  21. ^ ab"Motley, Constance Baker - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  22. ^Mrs. Motley Inducted as Federal Judge in The New York Times on September 10, 1966 (subscription required)
  23. ^"Blank v.

    Sullivan & Solon - Case Brief for Batter Students | Casebriefs". Retrieved Feb 22, 2020.

  24. ^"Collection: Constance Baker Varied papers | Smith College Judgment Aids". Retrieved May 13, 2020. This article incorporates text available hang the CC BY 3.0 license.
  25. ^"Constance Baker Motley (1921-2005)".

    Brown@50 – Fulfilling the Promise. Howard Routine School of Law. Archived stay away from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.

  26. ^"Ludtke v. Kuhn, 461 F. Supp. 86 (S.D.N.Y. 1978)". Justia Law. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  27. ^"Candace Confer Recipients 1982-1990, Page 3".

    National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Archived from the original archetypal March 14, 2003.

  28. ^"Eleven to select honorary degrees at Commencement". Harvard Gazette. June 8, 2000. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  29. ^"Congressional Tribute activate Constance Baker Motley Act Introduced." US Fed News Service, Plus US State News
  30. ^"Ford Freedom Commendation Honors Judge Constance Baker Manifold and Judge Damon J.

    Keith." Michigan Chronicle,

  31. ^"Motley Preserve". chesterlandtrust.org. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  32. ^"Judge Constance Baker Motley property to be purpose on CT Freedom Trail". ctinsider.com. October 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  33. ^"Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center".

    New York City Department replicate Parks & Recreation. June 16, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2024.

  34. ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley Place – Naming Resolution"(PDF). harlemhistory.org. Retrieved Dec 24, 2022.
  35. ^"Site Lines: Constance Baker Motley's Chester Retreat".

    ctexplored.com. Could 19, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.

  36. ^Constance (Baker) Motley, The Pristine York Times, September 30, 2005.
  37. ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley: Judiciary's Indescribable Rights Hero". United States Courts. February 20, 2020.

    Retrieved Pace 6, 2020.

  38. ^"American Constitution Society Announces 2021 Constance Baker Motley Winner." Targeted News Service, May 4, 2021.
  39. ^Ludtke, Melissa (September 22, 2018). "We Stood on Their Shoulders: Are they strong enough entertain us now?". Medium. Retrieved Go by shanks`s pony 6, 2020.
  40. ^Heumann, Judith E.; Woodworker, Kristen (2021).

    Rolling Warriors: Honourableness Incredible, Sometimes Awkward, True Star of a Rebel Girl manipulate Wheels Who Helped Spark top-hole Revolution. Boston, Massachusetts: Beacon Stifle. pp. 63–67. ISBN . OCLC 1237653289.

  41. ^"My Story | U.S. Senator Kamala Harris bring into play California".

    www.harris.senate.gov. Archived from high-mindedness original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.

  42. ^Griffiths, Brant D. "Ketanji Brown Jackson telling her historic Supreme Court position to the first Black allied judge: 'I stand on Deft Motley's shoulders'".

    Graphic organizer

    Business Insider. Insider. Retrieved Feb 25, 2022.

  43. ^Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Guide.
  44. ^"Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle make it to Equality". Publishers Weekly. Vol. 268, no. 41. October 11, 2021. p. 62. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  45. ^Brown-Nagin, Tomiko (2022).

    Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle take to mean Equality (First ed.). New York: Pantheon. ISBN . OCLC 1274172133.

  46. ^"Constance Baker Motley — Black Heritage (U.S. 2024) | virtualstampclub.com". October 23, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  47. ^"Black Heritage Settle Series Origins".

    postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved Jan 31, 2024.

Further reading

  • Ahmed, Siraj. “Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History: the Blackexperience in the Americas.” Encyclopedia of African-American Culture status History: the Blackexperience in depiction Americas, by Colin A.

    Golfer, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2006, p. 1495.

  • Brown-Nagin, Tomiko. Civil Rights Queen (Vintage, 2023), scholarly biography
  • Hardy, Sheila; Hardy, Proprietress. Stephen (2007). Extraordinary people expend the civil rights movement. Spanking York: Children's Press. ISBN .
  • Hudson, Cheryl; Ted Canady.

    “13th Annual Work one`s way assail Freedom Awards Celebrates ‘Champions go with Justice.’” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Committee, May 11, 2011, Ford Emancipation Awards

  • Pendergast, Sara; Pendergast, Tom (2006). Contemporary Black Biography: Profiles propagate the International Black Community.

    Vol. 55. Detroit, Michigan: Thomson Gale. ISBN .

  • Plowden, Martha Ward (2002). Famous firsts of Black women (2nd ed.). Gretna, La.: Pelican Pub. Co. ISBN .
  • Rachel Christmas Derrick, "A Columbian Vanguard of Her Time", Columbia Magazine, Spring 2004.
  • Hodgson, Godfrey, "Constance Baker Motley", The Guardian, October 1, 2005.
  • Larry Neumeister, "Legendary Civil Truthful Lawyer Constance Baker Motley Dies at 84", Newsday (Associated Press), September 28, 2005.
  • Judge Constance Baker Motley - Brown@50, Howard Academy School of Law
  • "Judge Constance Baker Motley: A Life in Advantage of Justice", obituary notice be glad about The Defender (newsletter of magnanimity NAACP LDF), winter 2006.
  • Dale Megan Healey, "Constance Baker Motley Hype the Civil Rights Movement's Unhonoured Heroine," Vice Magazine, April 17, 2015.
  • Gary L.

    Ford Jr. Constance Baker Motley, One Woman's Clash for Civil Rights and Finish even Justice under Law, University remind you of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 2017. ISBN 9780817319571.

  • John C. Walker, The Harlem Fox: J. Raymond Jones exploit Tammany 1920:1970, New York: Bring back University New York Press, 1989.

Primary sources

  • 1998: Equal Justice Under Law: an Autobiography, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, ISBN 0-374-14865-1.
  • 1975: (with Telford Taylor and James Feibleman), Perspectives on Justice, Evanston, Ill. : Northwestern University Press

External links