Blumenthal Leads Bipartisan Bill to Honor Constance Baker Motley With the Congressional Gold Medal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a bipartisan group of 27 lawmakers, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), and John Kennedy (R-LA), in introducing legislation to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Judge Constance Baker Motley. In addition to being the first Black woman to serve on the federal bench in the United States and argue before the United States Supreme Court, Judge Motley represented Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., helped author the argument against, “separate but equal” in Brown v. Board of Education, and led litigation that desegregated public accommodations and integrated universities across the south. The bill would honor Judge Motley with Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.

“Constance Baker Motley was a civil rights trailblazer and legal hero,” said Blumenthal. “A lifelong advocate for justice and equality, she dedicated her career to ensuring our Constitution’s ideals and protections applied to all Americans. Awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal will honor the impact she had on our nation’s history, the barriers she broke, and the generations she inspired.”

“Constance Baker Motley was nothing short of an icon, and her groundbreaking life and career were dedicated to advancing civil rights,” said Leader Schumer. “Both her historic appointment to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and election to the New York State Assembly shattered glass ceilings for black women and paved the way for increased diversity on the federal bench and in state legislatures. The Senate will continue the fight for Judge Motley’s life work to ensure civil rights and equal representation for all Americans.”

Judge Constance Baker Motley was a pioneer in the legal profession, as well as a trailblazer in the civil rights movement,” said Collins. “By working to ensure equality under the law, she made innumerable contributions to our justice system and helped our nation live up to its ideals. The Congressional Gold Medal would be a fitting tribute to commemorate her achievements and distinguished legacy.”

“A New Haven native, Judge Constance Baker Motley broke barriers as the first Black woman to serve on the federal bench and paved the way for so many after her. She dedicated her life to the fight for civil rights and equal justice under the law, and her legacy should be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal,” said Murphy.

The daughter of immigrants, Judge Motley began her legal career with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF) and soon became the first Black woman to argue a case before the United States Supreme Court. During her time with the NAACP LDF, Judge Motley won nine of the ten cases she argued before the high court.

Motley was nominated to the Southern District of New York by President Lyndon B. Johnson and confirmed by the Senate in 1966. With her deep commitment to civil rights and equal justice under the law, Judge Motley approached over 2,500 cases as a fair, skilled, dignified, and conscientious jurist until her death in 2005. Her service and legacy has inspired Black women and men for generations to come.

The Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2023 would recognize her four decades of service on the bench and role as a trailblazer in opening courthouse doors to Black women and men. It would also add Judge Motley to the historic list of civil rights icons who have been awarded Congress’ highest honor, including the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, the Little Rock Nine, foot soldiers who participated in the Bloody Sunday March from Selma to Montgomery, Jesse Owens, and Nelson Mandela.  

In the Senate, the legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

The text of the legislation can be found here. A profile of Judge Motley can be found here.

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