Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993) was a trailblazing American lawyer and jurist who became the first African American to serve on the…

By Staff , in Lawyers , at September 21, 2024 Tags: lawyers, usa

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Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993) was a trailblazing American lawyer and jurist who became the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Before his appointment as a justice in 1967, Marshall was best known for his role as a civil rights attorney, particularly his groundbreaking work in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which led to the desegregation of public schools in the United States. Marshall’s legal career was dedicated to fighting racial segregation and discrimination, and his legacy continues to shape American civil rights and constitutional law.

Early Life and Education
Thurgood Marshall was born on July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland, to a middle-class African American family. His father, William Marshall, worked as a steward at an exclusive club, and his mother, Norma, was a teacher. Marshall was inspired by his father, who encouraged debates on current events and social issues, often discussing racial injustice in America.

Marshall attended Lincoln University, a historically Black college in Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors in 1930. Initially considering a career in dentistry, Marshall shifted his focus to law after being influenced by his experiences with racial segregation and injustice. He applied to the University of Maryland School of Law, but was denied admission because he was Black. This event left a profound impact on Marshall and helped fuel his commitment to fighting racial inequality.

Instead, he attended Howard University School of Law, where he graduated first in his class in 1933. At Howard, Marshall was mentored by Charles Hamilton Houston, the dean of the law school and a prominent civil rights lawyer. Houston became a major influence on Marshall, instilling in him the idea that law could be a tool to dismantle segregation and promote social change.

Legal Career and Civil Rights Work
After law school, Marshall began his legal career in private practice but quickly became involved with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). In 1936, he joined the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, serving as the organization’s chief counsel. Over the next few decades, Marshall led the NAACP’s efforts to challenge racial segregation and discrimination in the courts.

Major Legal Cases
Murray v. Pearson (1936):
One of Marshall’s first significant cases was Murray v. Pearson, in which he successfully sued the University of Maryland School of Law for its discriminatory admissions policy. The case resulted in the university being ordered to admit Donald Murray, a Black applicant, marking one of the early victories in Marshall’s legal career and laying the groundwork for future challenges to segregation.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954):
Marshall’s most famous and transformative legal victory came with Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954, the case challenged the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools under the doctrine of “separate but equal,” which had been established by the Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Marshall argued that segregation in education was inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Marshall and the NAACP, declaring that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” and ordering the desegregation of public schools. This decision was a major victory for the civil rights movement and marked a turning point in the fight against institutionalized racism in the U.S.

Other Landmark Cases:
Throughout his career, Marshall argued 32 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning 29 of them. Some of his other notable cases include:
Smith v. Allwright (1944): Marshall successfully argued that Texas’s exclusion of African Americans from Democratic primary elections was unconstitutional, effectively ending the “white primary” system in Southern states.
Shelley v. Kraemer (1948): Marshall argued against racially restrictive housing covenants, which prevented Black people from purchasing homes in certain neighborhoods. The Supreme Court ruled that such covenants were unenforceable, opening up more opportunities for Black homeownership.
Sweatt v. Painter (1950): Marshall successfully challenged the segregation of the University of Texas Law School, leading to the admission of Heman Sweatt, a Black applicant. This case was a precursor to Brown v. Board of Education.

Appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Marshall to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, where he served with distinction for several years. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him as U.S. Solicitor General, making him the first African American to hold that position. As Solicitor General, Marshall argued cases on behalf of the U.S. government and continued his fight for civil rights.

In 1967, President Johnson nominated Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court, calling it “the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place.” Marshall was confirmed by the Senate, becoming the first African American Supreme Court justice. His appointment was a historic moment in American history and a major milestone in the ongoing struggle for racial equality.

Tenure on the Supreme Court (1967–1991)
During his 24 years on the Supreme Court, Justice Marshall was known as a staunch advocate for individual rights and civil liberties, particularly in cases involving race, the death penalty, and civil rights. He was a member of the Court’s liberal wing and frequently sided with decisions that expanded civil rights protections and individual freedoms.

Some of Marshall’s significant contributions while on the bench include:
Support for Civil Rights and Affirmative Action: Marshall was a consistent defender of civil rights laws and affirmative action policies aimed at redressing the history of racial discrimination. He believed that the Constitution should be interpreted in a way that promotes equality and justice for all people.

Opposition to the Death Penalty: Marshall was a vocal critic of the death penalty and argued that it was unconstitutional, particularly because of its disproportionate impact on minorities and the poor. He consistently voted against the use of capital punishment in cases that came before the Court.

Defense of Free Speech and Due Process: Marshall was a strong defender of First Amendment rights and worked to ensure that individuals’ due process rights were upheld in the criminal justice system.

Over time, Marshall found himself increasingly in the minority on the Court, especially as more conservative justices were appointed. Nevertheless, his dissents were powerful and often aimed at highlighting the need to protect vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Retirement and Legacy
Thurgood Marshall retired from the Supreme Court in 1991 due to declining health. He was succeeded by Clarence Thomas, the second African American to serve on the Court, though Marshall was critical of Thomas’ conservative judicial philosophy. Marshall passed away on January 24, 1993, at the age of 84.

Marshall’s legacy as a civil rights icon and one of the most influential legal minds of the 20th century endures. He is remembered not only for his trailblazing role as the first Black Supreme Court justice but also for his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and civil rights. His work as a lawyer and jurist helped dismantle the legal framework of racial segregation in the United States and paved the way for future generations of civil rights advocates.

Honors and Recognition
Throughout his life, Marshall received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to civil rights and American law. Many schools, public buildings, and scholarships have been named in his honor, including the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which supports students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). His life and work continue to inspire activists, lawyers, and advocates for social justice.