Constance Baker Motley was sworn in as a U.S. District Judge.
Constance Baker Motley was sworn in as a federal judge on September 9, 1966, officially beginning her judicial career in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Her swearing-in was a landmark event, as she assumed the role with the responsibility of overseeing significant civil rights cases at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Her role as judge afforded her the ability to influence judicial thought and promote equality through her rulings. Motley’s appointment illustrated the crucial need for diverse perspectives in judicial interpretations and was instrumental in shaping more progressive, inclusive judicial policies that defined a transformative era in civil rights law.