Thurgood Marshall—perhaps best known as the first African American Supreme Court justice—played an instrumental role in promoting racial equality during the civil rights movement. As a practicing attorney, Marshall argued a record-breaking 32 cases before the Supreme Court, winning 29 of them. In fact, Marshall represented and won more cases before the high court than any other person. The case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) was considered Marshall’s greatest victory as a civil-rights lawyer. A group of Black parents whose children were required to attend segregated schools filed a class-action lawsuit. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”
During his 24-year term as Supreme Court justice, Marshall’s passionate support for individual and civil rights guided his policies and decisions. Most historians regard him as an influential figure in shaping social policies and upholding laws to protect minorities. Continue reading from History.com
Justice Thurgood Marshall Profile (US Courts)
Thurgood Marshall: United States Jurist (Britannica)
Thurgood Marshall: Supreme Court Cases Argued (Columbus State Library)
Thurgood Marshall's Unique Supreme Court Legacy (Constitution Center)
Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center (Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center)
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