Who is a famous African American lawyer?
Asked by: Yasmin Turcotte | Last update: August 30, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (39 votes)
Arguably one of the most prominent civil rights lawyers in United States History, Thurgood Marshall is best known for dismantling segregation in America and arguing for the historic 1954 case: Brown v. Board of Education.
Who is the most famous black lawyer?
Thurgood Marshall
Perhaps none are more famous than his victory in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954, which overturned the “separate but equal” statute in public education established in Plessy v. Ferguson. He was nominated by President Lyndon B.
Who is the first African American lawyer?
Macon Bolling Allen (1816-1894)
Considered to be both the first African American attorney to practice law in the United States and to hold a judicial position, Macon Bolling Allen broke numerous barriers.
Who was the first black person to pass the bar?
In 1845, Macon Bolling Allen became the first Black person admitted to the bar in Massachusetts. However, it wasn't even the first place he was admitted to practice law. Allen became the first lawyer in United States History a year earlier when he passed the bar in Maine.
Who was the black lawyer who fought segregation?
As a lawyer and judge, Thurgood Marshall strived to protect the rights of all citizens. His legacy earned him the nickname "Mr. Civil Rights." Thurgood Marshall was born Thoroughgood Marshall on June 2, 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Part 1: The first African American lawyer in Maryland
Who is the Black lawyer for civil rights?
Benjamin Lloyd Crump (born October 10, 1969) is an American attorney who specializes in civil rights and catastrophic personal injury cases such as wrongful death lawsuits.
Who was the first female black lawyer?
Charlotte E. Ray graduated from Howard Law School on February 27, 1872, becoming not only the first female African-American lawyer in the United States but also the first practicing female lawyer in Washington, D.C.
Who was the first Black person to win a Court case?
Sojourner Truth (c. 1797-1883) made legal history in 1828 becoming the first Black woman to win a legal victory against a white man to secure a family member's freedom.
Who was the first black U.S. representative?
Joseph H. Rainey, from South Carolina, was the first African-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Who is the most famous lawyer of all time?
- Thomas Jefferson. We'll start at the beginning. ...
- Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was also a lawyer, though he didn't go to law school. ...
- Clarence Darrow. ...
- Thurgood Marshall. ...
- Sandra Day O'Connor. ...
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg. ...
- Alan Dershowitz. ...
- Johnnie Cochran.
Who was a famous black lawyer activist?
Johnnie Cochran. Johnnie Cochran was a famous lawyer who represented his famous clients with the kind of flair we expect from lawyers today. While Cochran gained notoriety during the O.J. Simpson trial in 1996, he was also known for his work as a civil rights activist.
Who was the first African American lawyer?
Macon Bolling Allen (born Allen Macon Bolling; August 4, 1816 – October 15, 1894) was an American attorney who is believed to be the first African American to become a lawyer and to argue before a jury, and the second to hold a judicial position in the United States.
Who is the richest lawyer?
Peter Angelos | $2 Billion
The wealthiest lawyer in North America, Peter Angelos earned his J.D. from the University of Baltimore and gained prominence in asbestos litigation, securing over $100 million from a single case. His 1993 purchase of the Baltimore Orioles for $173 million further added to his fortune.
Who is the famous black judge?
Civil Rights,” Thurgood Marshall was the leading architect of the strategy that ended state-sponsored segregation. Marshall founded LDF in 1940, serving as its first Director-Counsel. He became the first Black Supreme Court Justice when he was confirmed by the Senate on August 30, 1967.
Who was the first black U.S. justice?
Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American to take the oath of office as a Supreme Court Justice on October 2, 1967. President Johnson observed, “Thurgood Marshall symbolizes what is best about our American society: the belief that human rights must be satisfied through the orderly processes of law. …
Who became the first Black woman to go to court against a white man and win in the U.S. in 1828?
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was an American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Born into slavery in Ulster County, New York, Truth escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son, in 1828 she became the first black woman to win such a case against a white man.
Who was the first Black woman judge?
Black History Month Spotlight: Constance Baker Motley, First Black Female Federal Judge. Constance Baker Motley was the first Black woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, and in 1966, became the first to serve as a federal judge.
Who is the famous women's rights lawyer?
Gloria Allred. Gloria Rachel Allred (née Bloom; born July 3, 1941) is an American attorney known for taking high-profile and often controversial cases, particularly those involving feminist causes. She has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Who was the first Black woman Harvard law?
Lila Fenwick '53, who dedicated her career to human rights advocacy, overcame formidable barriers to become the first Black woman to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1956 — only six years after the school began admitting women.
Who was the lawyer for O.J. Simpson?
The attorneys representing O.J. Simpson in his 1995 murder trial included F. Lee Bailey, Robert Blasier, Shawn Chapman Holley, Robert Shapiro, Alan Dershowitz, and Robert Kardashian. Johnnie Cochran became the defense team's lead attorney. The attorneys were known as the “Dream Team.”
Who was the black lawyer on law and order?
Brooks appeared as OD in the award-winning film 84C MoPic (1989), directed by Patrick Sheane Duncan. Throughout the 1990s, most of his popularity came from his widespread exposure in his role as Paul Robinette on Law & Order. His roles alternated between feature films, television, and the stage.