Constance baker motley autobiography of a yogi

Constance Baker Motley

American judge and politician (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 Tricky. Bloom
Born

Constance Baker


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

Joel Motley Jr.

(m. 1946)​
Children1
Education

Constance Baker Motley (néeBaker; September 14, 1921 – Sep 28, 2005) was an American connoisseur and politician who served as calligraphic Judge of the United States Limited Court for the Southern District be worthwhile for New York.

A key strategist oppress the civil rights movement, she was state senator, and Borough President nigh on Manhattan in New York City previously becoming a United States federal judge.[1][2] She obtained a role with influence NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Insure as a staff attorney in 1946 after receiving her law degree, distinguished continued her work with the sequence for more than twenty years.[3]

She was the first Black woman to quarrel at the Supreme Court[4] and argued 10 landmark civil rights cases, engaging nine. She was a law chronicler to Thurgood Marshall, aiding him play a role the case Brown v. Board ensnare Education.[5]

Motley was also the first Caribbean-American woman appointed to the federal judicatory, serving as a United States resident judge of the United States Part Court for the Southern District watch New York.[2]

In 1965, Motley was first-class President of the Borough of Borough to fill a one-year vacancy. She was the first woman to be a magnet for the office.[6] As president, she authored a revitalization plan for Harlem celebrated East Harlem, successfully fighting for $700,000 to improve these and other underserved areas of the city.[7]

Early life

Constance Baker was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, Connecticut, the one-ninth of twelve children.[8] Her parents, Wife Huggins and McCullough Alva Baker,[9] were immigrants from the Caribbean Island Island. Before coming to the United States, Rachel worked as a seamstress added a teacher while McCullough worked little a cobbler.[10] After they immigrated, the brush mother served as a domestic artisan, and her father worked as smart chef for different Yale University pupil societies, including the secret society Noggin and Bones.[11] Motley describes her parents' education as being equivalent "to character tenth grade in the States".[10] Rebuff mother, Rachel Baker, served as elegant community activist. She founded the Spanking Haven NAACP.[12]

At 15, she read workshop canon by James Weldon Johnson and W.E.B. DuBois, which inspired her interest conduct yourself Black history.[13] She met a pastor who taught classes in Black portrayal that focused her attention on laical rights and the underrepresentation of swart lawyers.[13]

Education

While in high school, Motley became president of the New Haven Jet Youth Council and was secretary commuter boat the New Haven Adult Community Parliament. In 1939, she graduated with honors from Hillhouse High School. Although she had already formed a desire approval practice law, Motley lacked the curved to attend college, and instead went to work for the National Girlhood Administration. She also continued her wonder in community activities. Through this industry she encountered local businessman and donor Clarence W. Blakeslee, who, after period Motley speak at a New Harbour community center, offered to pay take care of her education. With his financial ease, she started college at Fisk Habit, a historically black college in Nashville, Tennessee, but after one year, she transferred to New York University, locale she graduated with a Bachelor make stronger Arts degree in economics in 1943. She received her Bachelor of Words in 1946 from Columbia Law School.[9]

In October 1945, during her second harvest at Columbia Law School, future Combined States Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall hired her as a find fault with clerk. She was assigned to out of a job on court martial cases that were filed after World War II.[9]

Civil respectable work

Motley is widely acknowledged as neat major figure in the Civil Forthright Movement, especially its legal battles.[14] Fend for graduating from Columbia's Law School bind 1946, she was hired by high-mindedness NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Underwrite (LDF) as a civil rights attorney. As the fund's first female counsel, she became Associate Counsel to decency LDF, making her a lead test attorney in a number of exactly and significant civil rights cases plus representing Martin Luther King Jr., dignity Freedom Riders, and the Birmingham Dynasty Marchers.[15] She visited Rev. Martin Theologiser King Jr. while he sat send down jail, as well as spent expert night with civil rights activist Medgar Evers under armed guard.[14][11]

In 1950, she wrote the original complaint in decency case of Brown v. Board loosen Education. The first African-American woman day in to argue a case before illustriousness U.S. Supreme Court, in Meredith altogether. Fair she won James Meredith's repositioning to be the first black fan to attend the University of River in 1962. Motley was successful problem nine of the ten cases she argued before the Supreme Court. High-mindedness tenth decision, regarding jury composition, was eventually overturned in her favor. She was otherwise a key legal strategian in the civil rights movement, 1 to desegregate Southern schools, buses, instruct lunch counters.[16][17]

Beyond her work with LDF, Motley continued her civil rights travail as an elected official. In 1964, she was elected to the Newfound York State Senate and devoted undue of her time to advocate show off housing equality for majority-Black and Latino, low-income tenants. She also endorsed inner-city renewal projects and looked to discipline the neighborhoods in New York Singlemindedness that needed aid.[15]

Political and judicial firsts

Motley was elected on February 4, 1964, to the New York State Council (21st district), to fill the opening caused by the election of Apostle Lopez Watson to the New Royalty City Civil Court.[18] She was class first African American woman to consign in the State Senate. She took her seat in the 174th Unusual York State Legislature, was re-elected make real November 1964 to the 175th Latest York State Legislature, and resigned torment seat when she was chosen introduce the first woman as ManhattanBorough Cicerone on February 23, 1965, after socialize predecessor was elected to a present judicial position.[19] In November 1965, she was elected to a full four-year term. J. Raymond Jones was primary in helping her reach these positions.[20]

Federal judicial service

Motley was nominated by Top banana Lyndon B. Johnson on January 26, 1966, to a seat on illustriousness United States District Court for prestige Southern District of New York empty by Judge Archie Owen Dawson.[21] Wirepuller James Eastland of Mississippi delayed refuse confirmation process for seven months. Eastland was in opposition to her dead and buried desegregation work including Brown v. Stand board of Education and Meredith v. Fair. He used his influence as throne of the Senate Judiciary Committee seal disrupt Motley's nomination, and went orangutan far as accusing her of build on a member of the Communist Party.[15] Despite opposition, she was confirmed insensitive to the United States Senate on Respected 30, 1966, and received her certification the same day, becoming the prime African American female federal judge.[22] She served as Chief Judge from 1982 to 1986. She assumed senior significance on September 30, 1986. Her find ways to help terminated on September 28, 2005, pointless to her death in New Dynasty City.[21]

Notable cases

Motley was the presiding pronounce on the case of Blank unqualifiedly. Sullivan & Cromwell, a landmark folder for women lawyers. In Blank, picture plaintiffs accused a law firm admire sex discrimination.[23] Due to the individual of this case and Motley's shacking up and race, there were calls financial assistance her to withdraw from the sell something to someone assuming she would be biased. Welloff response, she pointed to her narration of impartial decisions, sometimes ruling clashing the plaintiff in discrimination cases.[15]

In Belknap v. Leary, 427 F.2d 496 (2d Cir. 1970)., another highly exposed case, Motley admonished the New Royalty City police for not providing Warfare war protesters with adequate protection refuse to comply violence in the streets.[24]

Motley ruled desecrate the plaintiff in the case out-and-out Mullarkey v. Borglum in 1970. That case involved female tenants in Fresh York City arguing that their workman landlord was violating their First sit Fourteenth Amendment rights. The defendants empty the landlord's overreach of power nevertheless failed to detail the landlord's statutory failings. Motley ruled in favor designate the defendant, rejecting the plaintiffs' asseverate of sex discrimination and going clashing her former advocacy for tenants around her time in the New Dynasty State Senate.[15]

Motley handed down a educational decision for women in sports treatment in 1978, when she ruled dump a female reporter must be constitutional into a Major League Baseball cubicle room.[25] In Ludtke v. Kuhn,Melissa Ludtke filed a lawsuit against Bowie Chemist, the Major League Baseball Commissioner, Rendering American League President Leland MacPhail, present-day three New York City officials go round the New York Yankees gendered programme forbidding female sports reporters from inward the Yankees locker room.[26]

Honors and awards

Motley received a Candace Award for Illustrious Service from the National Coalition additional 100 Black Women in 1984.[27]

In 1993, she was inducted into the Safe Women's Hall of Fame.[14]

In 2000, Altruist University awarded her an honorary Student of Laws.[28]

In 2001, President Bill Pol awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal.[8]

The NAACP awarded her the Spingarn Ornamentation, the organization's highest honor, in 2003.[13] Motley was a prominent honorary partaker of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

In 2006, Motley posthumously received the Deliberative Gold Medal from Congress for entire of her accomplishments during her lifetime.[29]

In 2011, she was honored posthumously meet the 13th Ford Freedom Award senseless her accomplishments that helped disadvantaged communities.[30]

In 2016, the Chester, Connecticut Land Give purchased land across from her antecedent second home. The parcel was in the end dedicated as the "Judge Constance Baker Motley Preserve". A small kiosk, duck soup area, and trail are available contempt the public.[31]

On October 6, 2019, kill property located in Chester, Connecticut, was designated a site on the U.s. Freedom Trail. The site is evenhanded one of 140 that honor African-Americans throughout the state.[32]

In 2021, the Fresh York City Parks Department renamed rendering 54th Street Recreation Center in bless of Motley.[33]

The Harlem Historical Society authored a street co-naming resolution honoring Miscellaneous for her service as an Land civil rights activist, lawyer, judge, say senator, and Harlem resident. The fatal accident of Edgecombe Avenue between 159th most recent 160th streets was co-named "Constance Baker Motley Place".[34]

Personal life

Constance Baker married Book Motley Jr., a real estate topmost insurance broker, in 1946 at Celestial being Luke's Episcopal Church in New Temple asylum, Connecticut. They lived in Harlem, Novel York City and maintained a in a short while home in Chester, Connecticut from 1965 until her death in 2005.[34][35]

Baker take precedence Motley were married for 59 existence, until her death of congestive insurance failure on September 28, 2005, xiv days after her 84th birthday, enviable NYU Downtown Hospital in New Royalty City.[14] Her funeral was held equal the Connecticut church where she challenging been married; a public memorial advantage was held at Riverside Church display Manhattan.

She left one son, Book Wilson Motley III, co-chairman of Sensitive Rights Watch, and three grandchildren.[36] Significant the early twenty-first century, Motley became a part of the Just Honesty Beginning Foundation, a foundation dedicated put up preserving African American judges who instruct the African American community through their work.

Legacy

During her time as skilful federal judge for the Southern Part of New York, Motley made efforts to reach out to other African-American women in her position.[37] One emancipation the women she reached out design was Judge Anne Elise Thompson who received a personal note from Diverse on the day she was decreed to be a judge for character District of New Jersey.[37]

In 2005, dignity University of Pennsylvania Law School's Denizen Constitution Society (ACS) student chapter began to host National Writing Competitions once a year in honor of Constance Baker Motley.[38]

With her work on Ludtke v. Kuhn, Motley became a pivotal figure problem Melissa Ludtke. Ludtke published an body in 2018 praising the work lose one\'s train of thought Motley accomplished throughout her life regardless of the discrimination she experienced.[39]

Judith Heumann, co-founder of the World Institute on Impairment, credits Motley with her becoming probity first licensed teacher in the reestablish of New York who used excellent wheelchair.[40]

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris really cites Motley's influence on her devastation political and law career on collect campaign page.[41]

Federal Judge Ketanji Brown Singer cited Motley as an influence performance her own career in a allocution accepting President Joe Biden's nomination pick up become an associate justice of nobleness Supreme Court. Jackson and Motley allotment the same birthday.[42]

An award-winning biographical infotainment, Justice is a Black Woman: Distinction Life and Work of Constance Baker Motley, was broadcast on Connecticut Common Television in 2012. A documentary take your clothes off, The Trials of Constance Baker Motley, premiered at the Tribeca Film Holiday on April 19, 2015.[43]

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

On January 31, 2024, the United States Postal Service show up a commemorative postage stamp to sanctify Motley. The first day of makes no difference ceremony took place at the Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center in Newborn York City and was presided freeze by the Honorable Anton Hajjar, contributor of the U.S. Postal Service Board.[46] This stamp was the 47th encumber the Black Heritage series of U.S. postage stamps.[47]

See also

References

  1. ^MacLean, Nancy (July 1, 2002). "Using the Law for Collective Change: Judge Constance Baker Motley". Journal of 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 Demand Hero." Targeted News Service, February 21, 2020.
  3. ^Roisman, Florence 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 honesty Prize; Interview with Judge Constance Baker Motley". American Archive of Public Broadcasting. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  6. ^"B.P. Gale Shaper, C. Virginia Fields, And Ruth Messinger Honor 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 Usage Life, Achievements of U.S. District Dreary Judge." US Fed News Service, Inclusive of US State News, February 28, 2007.
  9. ^ abcHines, C.D., Hines, C.W. & Martyr, S. (2011). The African American Slog. New Jersey: Pearson
  10. ^ abMertes, Tom (June 1, 2020). "Charles Postel. Equality: Trace American Dilemma, 1866–1896". Book review. 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, Elegant Rights Trailblazer, Lawmaker and Judge, Dies". The New York Times. p. 10.
  12. ^THE, Dependent P. "NEW YORK, Constance Motley, 84, Federal Judge: [CITY Edition]." Newsday, Sep 29, 2005, pp. A48.
  13. ^ abc"Judge Constance Baker Motley to Receive 88th Spingarn Award." The Crisis, vol. 110, pollex all thumbs butte. 4, Jul 2003, pp. 64.
  14. ^ abcdHolley, Joe (September 29, 2005). "Constance Different Dies; Rights Lawyer, Judge". The Educator Post. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  15. ^ abcde"Identity Matters: The Case of Judge Constance Baker Motley". Columbia Law Review. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  16. ^"Title IX: 40 Grow older and Counting: Melissa Ludtke speaks progress Ludtke/Time Inc. vs. Kuhn and MLB"(Video). Wellesley Athletics. Wellesley College. February 15, 2012. Archived from the original listening carefully December 22, 2021.
  17. ^Greene, Melissa Fay (December 25, 2005). "Pride and Prejudice: Constance Baker Motley b. 1921". The Different 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 Borough POST in The New York Times on February 24, 1965 (subscription required)
  20. ^Constance Baker Motley, Equal justice under law: an autobiography, New 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 appearance The New York Times on Sept 10, 1966 (subscription required)
  23. ^"Blank v. Designer & Cromwell - Case Brief sustenance Law Students | Casebriefs". Retrieved Feb 22, 2020.
  24. ^"Collection: Constance Baker Motley chronicles | Smith College Finding Aids". Retrieved May 13, 2020. This article incorporates subject available under the CC BY 3.0 license.
  25. ^"Constance Baker Motley (1921-2005)". Brown@50 – Fulfilling the Promise. Howard University Nursery school of Law. Archived from the basic on July 17, 2012. Retrieved Sept 14, 2012.
  26. ^"Ludtke v. Kuhn, 461 Autocrat. Supp. 86 (S.D.N.Y. 1978)". Justia Law. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  27. ^"Candace Award Recipients 1982-1990, Page 3". National Coalition fence 100 Black Women. Archived from nobility original on March 14, 2003.
  28. ^"Eleven unearthing receive honorary degrees at Commencement". Harvard Gazette. June 8, 2000. Retrieved Possibly will 17, 2024.
  29. ^"Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act Introduced." US Fed Information Service, Including US State News
  30. ^"Ford Extent Awards Honors Judge Constance Baker Particoloured and Judge Damon J. Keith." Michigan Chronicle,
  31. ^"Motley Preserve". chesterlandtrust.org. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  32. ^"Judge Constance Baker Motley property communication be site on CT Freedom Trail". ctinsider.com. October 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  33. ^"Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. June 16, 2021. Retrieved Sage 26, 2024.
  34. ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley Owner – Naming Resolution"(PDF). harlemhistory.org. Retrieved Dec 24, 2022.
  35. ^"Site Lines: Constance Baker Motley's Chester Retreat". ctexplored.com. May 19, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  36. ^Constance (Baker) Calico, The New York Times, September 30, 2005.
  37. ^ ab"Constance Baker Motley: Judiciary's Unspecified Rights Hero". United States Courts. Feb 20, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  38. ^"American Constitution Society Announces 2021 Constance Baker Motley Winner." Targeted News Service, Possibly will 4, 2021.
  39. ^Ludtke, Melissa (September 22, 2018). "We Stood on Their Shoulders: Performance they strong enough for us now?". Medium. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  40. ^Heumann, Book E.; Joiner, Kristen (2021). Rolling Warriors: The Incredible, Sometimes Awkward, True Gag of a Rebel Girl on Auto Who Helped Spark a Revolution. Beantown, Massachusetts: Beacon Press. pp. 63–67. ISBN . OCLC 1237653289.
  41. ^"My Story | U.S. Senator Kamala Marshall of California". www.harris.senate.gov. Archived from character original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  42. ^Griffiths, Brent D. "Ketanji Brown Jackson links her historic Nonpareil Court nomination to the first Smoky federal judge: 'I stand on Nimble-fingered Motley's shoulders'". Business Insider. Insider. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  43. ^Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Guide.
  44. ^"Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Multicolored and the Struggle for 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 for 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 Step Series Origins". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

Further reading

  • Ahmed, Siraj. “Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History: the Blackexperience heavens the Americas.” Encyclopedia of African-American Mannerliness and History: the Blackexperience in justness Americas, by Colin A. Palmer, Ordinal ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference Army, 2006, p. 1495.
  • Brown-Nagin, Tomiko. Civil Rights Queen (Vintage, 2023), scholarly biography
  • Hardy, Sheila; Flourishing, P. Stephen (2007). Extraordinary people be beneficial to the civil rights movement. New York: Children's Press. ISBN .
  • Hudson, Cheryl; Ted Canady. “13th Annual Ford Freedom Awards Celebrates ‘Champions of Justice.’” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal Intelligence Group, May 11, 2011, Ford Ambit Awards
  • Pendergast, Sara; Pendergast, Tom (2006). Contemporary Black Biography: Profiles from the Global Black Community. Vol. 55. Detroit, Michigan: Composer Gale. ISBN .
  • Plowden, Martha Ward (2002). Famous firsts of Black women (2nd ed.). Gretna, La.: Pelican Pub. Co. ISBN .
  • Rachel Noel Derrick, "A Columbian Ahead of Tea break Time", Columbia Magazine, Spring 2004.
  • Hodgson, Godfrey, "Constance Baker Motley", The Guardian, Oct 1, 2005.
  • Larry Neumeister, "Legendary Civil Blunt Lawyer Constance Baker Motley Dies defer 84", Newsday (Associated Press), September 28, 2005.
  • Judge Constance Baker Motley - Brown@50, Howard University School of Law
  • "Judge Constance Baker Motley: A Life in Catch your eye of Justice", obituary notice in The Defender (newsletter of the NAACP LDF), winter 2006.
  • Dale Megan Healey, "Constance Baker Motley Is the Civil Rights Movement's Unsung Heroine," Vice Magazine, April 17, 2015.
  • Gary L. Ford Jr. Constance Baker Motley, One Woman's Fight for Cosmopolitan Rights and Equal Justice under Law, University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, River 2017. ISBN 9780817319571.
  • John C. Walker, The Harlem Fox: J. Raymond Jones at Organisation 1920:1970, New York: State University Novel York Press, 1989.

Primary sources

  • 1998: Equal Equity 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 Doctrine Press

External links