List of African American federal judges facts for kids
African Americans have played a vital role in the United States legal system. Many have served as United States federal judges, helping to make important decisions that affect everyone. As of early 2024, nearly 300 African Americans have held these powerful positions in federal courts across the country. These judges work in different types of courts, from the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, to courts that handle everyday legal cases.
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United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. It has nine judges, called Justices, who make final decisions on legal cases. So far, three African Americans have served as Supreme Court Justices.
| # | Justice | Seat | State | Began service |
Ended service |
Reason for termination |
Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thurgood Marshall | 10 | MD | August 30, 1967 | October 1, 1991 | retirement | Johnson |
| 2 | Clarence Thomas | 10 | GA | October 23, 1991 | Incumbent | — | G.H.W. Bush |
| 3 | Ketanji Brown Jackson | 2 | FL | June 30, 2022 | Incumbent | — | Biden |
United States Courts of Appeals
The U.S. Courts of Appeals are the next level down from the Supreme Court. They review decisions made by lower courts. There are 13 Courts of Appeals, each covering a different region of the country, called a "circuit." Many African Americans have served as judges on these important courts.
Here are some of the first and most recent African American judges to serve on these courts:
| # | Judge | Circuit | State | Began active service |
Ended active service |
Ended senior status |
Reason for termination |
Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William H. Hastie | Third | VI | October 21, 1949 | May 31, 1971 | April 14, 1976 | death | Truman |
| 2 | Thurgood Marshall | Second | MD | October 5, 1961 | August 23, 1965 | — | appointed Solicitor General | Kennedy |
| 3 | Wade H. McCree | Sixth | MI | September 7, 1966 | March 28, 1977 | — | appointed Solicitor General | Johnson |
| 4 | Spottswood W. Robinson III | D.C. | DC | November 3, 1966 | September 1, 1989 | October 11, 1998 | death | Johnson |
| 40 | Ketanji Brown Jackson | D.C. | DC | June 17, 2021 | June 29, 2022 | — | elevation to Supreme Court | Biden |
| 54 | Nancy Abudu | Eleventh | GA | May 26, 2023 | Incumbent | — | — | Biden |
United States District Courts
The U.S. District Courts are the main trial courts in the federal system. This is where most federal cases begin. Many African Americans have served as judges in these courts across the country.
The first African American judge to serve in a U.S. District Court was James Benton Parsons, appointed in 1961 to the Northern District of Illinois. Since then, many more have followed, making sure justice is served in their communities.
Other Federal Courts
Beyond the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, and District Courts, there are other specialized federal courts. These include courts that handle specific types of cases, like tax issues or claims against the government. African Americans have also served as judges in these important courts.
For example, Irvin C. Mollison was the first African American judge in the U.S. Customs Court (now the U.S. Court of International Trade), appointed in 1945.
See also
