Thurgood Marshall
(1908-1993)

1st African-American Supreme Court Justice
1993 National Freedom Award
1993 Presidential Medal of Freedom

birthdate: July 2
birthplace:
Baltimore, Maryland

Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American U.S. Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1967 until he retired in 1991. Before his appointment to the High Court by President Lyndon Johnson, Marshall distinguished himself with a remarkable 23-year career as lawyer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. As the NAACP's chief counsel, he argued more than 30 cases before the Supreme Court. His greatest triumph came in 1954 when he won a landmark decision banning racial segregation. As Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall strongly supported the Constitutional protection of civil rights, especially regarding discrimination on race and gender, supported a woman's right to choose, and was strongly opposed to the death penalty. After he retired for health reasons, Thurgood Marshall was outspoken in his criticism and concern about what he saw was the Supreme Court's marked conservative turn after appointments by Ronald Reagan.

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