# Thurgood Marshall

> Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1967 to 1991 (1908–1993)

**Wikidata**: [Q312348](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312348)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshall)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thurgood-marshall

## Summary
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1967 to 1991, serving as the first Black justice on the court. He was a prominent civil rights lawyer and advocate, best known for his landmark case *Brown v. Board of Education* (1954), which struck down racial segregation in public schools.

## Biography
- Born: July 2, 1908, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Nationality: United States
- Education:
  - Lincoln University (Bachelor of Arts, 1929)
  - Howard University School of Law (Juris Doctor, 1932)
- Known for: Leading the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and arguing *Brown v. Board of Education*
- Employer(s):
  - NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (founder and director)
  - Supreme Court of the United States (Associate Justice, 1967–1991)
- Field(s): Civil rights law, constitutional law, judicial advocacy

## Contributions
- **Legal Advocacy**: Led the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which successfully argued *Brown v. Board of Education* (1954), overturning racial segregation in public schools.
- **Supreme Court Service**: Served as an Associate Justice from 1967 to 1991, becoming the first Black justice on the court.
- **Landmark Cases**: Played a key role in cases such as *Gideon v. Wainwright* (1963), which established the right to legal counsel for indigent defendants.
- **Awards and Recognition**: Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1993), the Spingarn Medal, and the Philadelphia Liberty Medal.

## FAQs
**What was Thurgood Marshall's most famous case?**
Thurgood Marshall is best known for leading the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in *Brown v. Board of Education* (1954), which struck down racial segregation in public schools.

**Where did Thurgood Marshall work?**
Marshall founded and directed the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund before serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1967 to 1991.

**What awards did Thurgood Marshall receive?**
Marshall received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1993), the Spingarn Medal, and the Philadelphia Liberty Medal.

**What was Thurgood Marshall's role in the Supreme Court?**
Marshall served as an Associate Justice from 1967 to 1991, becoming the first Black justice on the court.

**How did Thurgood Marshall influence civil rights law?**
Marshall's work in *Brown v. Board of Education* and *Gideon v. Wainwright* established landmark precedents in civil rights and constitutional law.

## Why They Matter
Thurgood Marshall's work as a civil rights lawyer and Supreme Court justice fundamentally reshaped American law. His leadership in *Brown v. Board of Education* dismantled legal segregation, while his service on the Supreme Court advanced constitutional protections for civil liberties. Marshall's legacy endures as a symbol of racial justice and legal equality, influencing generations of lawyers, judges, and activists.

## Notable For
- First Black Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Founder and director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
- Lead attorney in *Brown v. Board of Education* (1954), which overturned racial segregation in public schools
- Key figure in *Gideon v. Wainwright* (1963), establishing the right to legal counsel for indigent defendants
- Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1993), Spingarn Medal, and Philadelphia Liberty Medal
- Honorary doctorates from Johns Hopkins University and Victoria University of Wellington

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Thurgood Marshall was born on July 2, 1908, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Lincoln University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1929, and later graduated from Howard University School of Law in 1932.

### Legal Career and Civil Rights Advocacy
Marshall founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in 1940, where he became a leading civil rights lawyer. His most famous case was *Brown v. Board of Education* (1954), which struck down racial segregation in public schools.

### Supreme Court Service
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Marshall as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, making him the first Black justice on the court. He served until 1991, during which time he played a pivotal role in landmark cases such as *Gideon v. Wainwright* (1963).

### Awards and Legacy
Marshall received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993. He also earned honorary doctorates from Johns Hopkins University and Victoria University of Wellington. His legacy continues to inspire legal professionals and civil rights advocates.

### Affiliations and Honors
Marshall was affiliated with Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law. He received the Spingarn Medal and the Philadelphia Liberty Medal for his contributions to civil rights and the legal profession.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/marshall-thurgood-1908-1993/)
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7. [Source](https://www.naacp.org/awards/spingarn-medal/winners/)
8. [Source](https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/two_column_table/Presidential_Medal_of_Freedom_Recipients.htm)
9. The Chicago Defender
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