There have been numerous influential Black judges throughout American history who have made significant contributions to the judiciary system and civil rights movements. One standout figure is Thurgood Marshall, who became the first African American Supreme Court justice in 1967. Marshall was an instrumental figure in the civil rights movement and argued several landmark cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of public schools.

Another notable Black judge is Constance Baker Motley, who was the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge. Motley was a prominent civil rights attorney who worked on key cases in the movement, and she later served as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

More recently, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. Jackson has an impressive legal career and has served as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

These individuals, among many others, have helped pave the way for greater diversity and representation in the legal profession and have played a vital role in advancing civil rights and equality in the United States.