I got the chance to argue my first case in Supreme Court, a criminal case arising in Alabama that involved the right of a defendant to counsel at a critical stage in a capital case before a trial.

Quote by Constance Baker Motley

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My parents never told us that our great-grandmothers had been slaves.

My parents never told us that our great-grandmothers had been slaves.

In my view, I did not get to the federal bench because I was a...

In my view, I did not get to the federal bench because I was a...

My father kept his distance from working-class American blacks.

My father kept his distance from working-class American blacks.

The black population now consists of two distinct classes-the middle class and the poor.

The black population now consists of two distinct classes-the middle class and the poor.

Living at the YMCA in Harlem dramatically broadened my view of the world.

Living at the YMCA in Harlem dramatically broadened my view of the world.

I grew up in a house where nobody had to tell me to go to...

I grew up in a house where nobody had to tell me to go to...

We Americans entered a new phase in our history - the era of integration -...

We Americans entered a new phase in our history - the era of integration -...

There is no longer a single common impediment to blacks emerging in this society.

There is no longer a single common impediment to blacks emerging in this society.

We knew then what we know now; only exemplary blacks are acceptable.

We knew then what we know now; only exemplary blacks are acceptable.

King consciously steered away from legal claims and instead relied on civil disobedience.

King consciously steered away from legal claims and instead relied on civil disobedience.

There appears to be no limit as to how far the women's revolution will take...

There appears to be no limit as to how far the women's revolution will take...

King thought he understood the white Southerner, having been born and reared in Georgia and...

King thought he understood the white Southerner, having been born and reared in Georgia and...

Today's white majority is largely silent about the race question.

Today's white majority is largely silent about the race question.

I remember being infuriated from the top of my head to the tip of my...

I remember being infuriated from the top of my head to the tip of my...

I soon found law school an unmitigated bore.

I soon found law school an unmitigated bore.

I rejected the notion that my race or sex would bar my success in life.

I rejected the notion that my race or sex would bar my success in life.

When I was 15, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. No one thought...

When I was 15, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. No one thought...

In high school, I discovered myself. I was interested in race relations and the legal...

In high school, I discovered myself. I was interested in race relations and the legal...

How long must the American community afford special treatment to blacks?

How long must the American community afford special treatment to blacks?

The women's rights movement of the 1970s had not yet emerged; except for Bella Abzug,...

The women's rights movement of the 1970s had not yet emerged; except for Bella Abzug,...