Congressional Medal In Sight For Constance Baker Motley

The late New Haven born civil rights leader and federal judge Constance Baker Motley will get her due, if U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro succeeds in a mission in Washington. 

DeLauro recently introduced the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2022. If passed, the legislation will recognize Judge Constance Baker Motley by awarding her a Congressional Gold Medal.

The late Baker Motley, who would have turned 100 last year, won nine out of 10 cases she argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and was the first Black female federal judge. She was celebrated Tuesday in the neighborhood where she grew up. Neighbors, city leaders, and admirers of Baker Motley joined at the Dixwell Q House to highlight the pending legislation. 

DeLauro reported that she is in the process of gathering co-sponsors for the bill.

The speaker line-up Tuesday included Mayor Justin Elicker, Greater New Haven NAACP President Dori Dumas, Dixwell Alder Jeannette Morrison, New Haven Probate Court Judge Clifton Graves Jr., Campaign School at Yale Executive Director Patti Russo, and Gary Ford Jr., author of the biography Constance Baker Motley: One Woman’s Fight for Civil Rights and Equal Justice Under Law.

Speakers noted how as a child growing in Dixwell, Baker Motley attended the Q house and graduated from Hillhouse High School.

“As we celebrate Black History Month this year, a Congressional gold medal is a fitting award for a woman who broke so many barriers,” DeLauro said. 

Dumas spoke on her respect for Baker Motley as a fellow Hillhouse alum, New Haven native, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

“Constance Baker Motley spent her life making the law respectable for all people,” Graves said.

During Tuesday’s ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s​“LoveBabz Love Talk” radio program the word on the street was a New Haven that currently ​“stands on the shoulders of Constance Baker Motley” according to Morrison. 

“She’s a kid from Dixwell just like I’m a kid from Newhallville,” Morrison said.

Morrison described the Q House as a ​“training ground” offering the community with opportunity and knowledge to be successful. 

“This building is something that allows many many more judge Motley’s to be in the future,” Elicker said. 

Morrison said once the bill passes, she hopes to add a replica of the Congressional Gold Medal at the Q House. 

Click above to watch an interview before the event with Alder Morrison on the ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s ​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.