Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall (July 2,1908 ? January 24,1993) was an American jurist and the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

U.S. Supreme Court

On June 13, 1967, President Johnson appointed Marshall to the Supreme Court following the retirement of justice Tom C. Clark, saying that this was "the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place." He was the 96th person to hold the position, and the first African-American. President Johnson confidently predicted to one biographer, Doris Kearns, that a lot of black baby boys would be named "Thurgood" in honor of this choice.

Related Topics:
June 13 - 1967 - Tom C. Clark - Doris Kearns

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Marshall served on the Court for the next twenty-four years, compiling a liberal record that included strong support for Constitutional protection of individual rights, especially the rights of criminal suspects against the government. His most frequent ally on the Court was Justice William Brennan, who consistently joined him in opposing the death penalty. Marshall announced his retirement at the end of his term on June 28, 1991, citing his age and declining health as reasons.

Related Topics:
William Brennan - Death penalty - June 28 - 1991

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Among his many law clerks were Chief Judge Douglas Ginsburg of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and well-known law professor Cass Sunstein.

Related Topics:
Law clerks - Douglas Ginsburg - D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals - Cass Sunstein

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There is a memorial to Justice Marshall near the Maryland State House. http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/stagser/s1259/121/6259/html/0001.html

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