Motley, Constance Baker (1921–2005)

views updated

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.

More From encyclopedia.com