African American State Supreme Court Justices Since 1870

Since the first African American, Jonathan Jasper Wright, was appointed to the State Supreme Court of South Carolina in 1870, black men and women have slowly but steadily obtained seats on the highest state courts across the nation. Listed below are the first African Americans elected or appointed to the highest courts in their respective states. As you can see, there are many justices who await volunteers to write their profiles.  Please help us bring their stories to the public by writing about them for BlackPast.org.  If you are interested please contact us at [email protected].