Motley, Constance Baker (1921–2005)
Motley, Constance Baker (1921–2005)
African-American lawyer, politician, and judge. Name variations: Constance Baker; Connie Motley. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Sept 14, 1921; died Sept 29, 2005, in New York, NY; dau. of Willoughby Alba Baker and Rachel (Huggins) Baker; attended Fisk University, 1941–42; transferred to New York University, graduating 1943; entered Columbia Law School, 1943, graduated, 1946; m. Joel Motley, 1946; children: Joel Jr.
Became a lawyer to facilitate the idea that the 14th Amendment's "equal protection" clause might be further applied to the issues of racial inequality in America; worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (1946–63), the legal arm of the civil-rights movement; was the 1st woman to join the Defense Fund which at that time included just 3 other lawyers: Robert Carter, Edward Dudley, and Thurgood Marshall; participated in some of the most groundbreaking cases in civil-rights history, including Brown v. Board of Education; also defended James Meredith in his historic case against University of Mississippi; was a member of New York State House of Representatives (1964–65), the 1st black woman to serve in the state legislature; served as Manhattan Borough president (1965–66); nominated by Robert F. Kennedy, was confirmed as federal district court judge (1966). Inducted into Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY (1995).
See also Women in World History.