Constance Baker Motley was a pioneering figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a trailblazing African American civil rights activist, lawyer, and judge. Born in 1921 in New Haven, Connecticut, Motley was the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge.

Motley's legal career began in the 1940s when she worked as a law clerk for Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. She was heavily involved in several high-profile civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of public schools. Motley was a key strategist and litigator in many landmark civil rights cases, helping to dismantle segregation laws in the United States.

In 1964, Motley was appointed as a federal judge for the Southern District of New York, becoming the first African American woman to serve in this role. Throughout her career as a judge, she continued to uphold civil rights and equality under the law.

Constance Baker Motley's legacy as a champion for civil rights and a trailblazer for African American women in the legal profession continues to inspire generations of activists and lawyers.