Thurgood Marshall "Thurgood Marshall, pioneer civil rights lawyer, becomes the first Negro appointed to the Supreme Court. He replaces the resigning Justice Tom Clark. President Johnson calls him most qualified. " Flashback MSs NAACP legal director THURGOOD MARSHALL posing with two fellow lawyers during legal hearings of Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954. CUs Thurgood Marshall speaking at press conferences, 1960s. MS Thurgood Marshall talking with President LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (LBJ) at press conference.