Thurgood Marshall: Facts and Documentaries About the…

Thurgood Marshall: Facts and Documentaries About the Trailblazing Civil Rights Lawyer and Jurist

His work and legacy from lawyer to U.S. Supreme Court Justice earned him the nickname "Mr. Civil Rights"

Published on August 29, 2025 by PBS

Timeline of Key Events in Thurgood Marshall's Life

1908: Thurgood Marshall was born July 2, 1908 in Baltimore, MD.

1930: Marshall graduated from Lincoln University in 1930, then obtained his law degree from Howard University Law School in 1933. He opened a law office in Baltimore and represented the local NAACP chapter in several cases regarding segregation in schools.

1940: In 1940, Marshall founded the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He went onto argue before the Supreme Court 32 times. Of those 32 cases, Marshall won 29 of them.

1954: Marshall's court victories included several landmark civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954. This case ruled school segregation unconstitutional, a critical civil rights victory for all children.

1961: In 1961 Marshall was nominated to the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals by President John F. Kennedy. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination to the court.

1965: In 1965, Marshall was appointed by President Johnson to serve as solicitor general.

1967: In 1967, President Johnson appointed Marshall to the Supreme Court after Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark’s retirement. When the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination on August 30, 1967, Thurgood Marshall became first Black person to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.

1991: Marshall retired from the Supreme Court in 1991 after 24 years on the bench. His career as a lawyer and jurist helped the justice system work for all people, and to right the wrongs of past discriminatory laws and practices. His legacy and positive impact earned him the nickname "Mr. Civil Rights."

1993: Died January 24, 1993 at Walter Reed Medical Center (Washington, DC)

Thurgood Marshall gives a press conference in his role as chief counsel for the NAACP, 1955. Everett Collection Historical/Alamy Stock Photo

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