On this day in 1967, Thurgood Marshall was sworn into the United States Supreme Court, making him the first African American to hold one of the prestigious seats. When he joined the bench, the Supreme Court was fairly liberal. Landmark cases such as 1973's Roe v. Wade were passed under his tenure. Marshall also shared his thoughts on the death penalty in the de facto moratorium for the 1972 case Furman v. Georgia. Marshall said he believes the penalty to be unconstitutional. Over the years however, the judges appointed became more conservative.
He stepped down from the bench in 1991 and passed away in 1993 at the age of 84.
Take a look at some photos from the day he was sworn in.
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