LOCAL · NY · 1965-1966

Constance Baker Motley

Borough President · Manhattan · Democrat · New York

NOTABLE

On the record

First African-American woman federal judge; argued 10 SCOTUS civil rights cases incl Meredith v Fair

Background

Constance Baker Motley (1921–2005) was Manhattan Borough President 1965-1966 — the first Black woman elected to a citywide office in NYC. As an NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney 1945-1965, she argued 10 cases at the U.S. Supreme Court (winning 9), including Meredith v. Fair (admitting James Meredith to Ole Miss 1962). Appointed by LBJ to SDNY in 1966 as the first African-American woman federal judge in U.S. history. Senior judge until her death 2005.

Curated bio from Officium's editorial pass.