1924-1969
Martha Belle Williams, with M. Bernadine Johnson Marshall, was the first African American woman admitted to the New Jersey Bar. She said, “I haven’t thought much about taking the examination as a Negro or as a woman either, I just want to be a good lawyer.’
Martha was from Montclair but attended Essex Junior College and New Jersey Law School in Newark. She served her clerkship at the offices of Sidney G. Grover in Newark.
In January 1967, Martha was appointed an associate attorney at Essex Legal Services, and in 1968 senior attorney at the Montclair Office of Essex County Legal Services. She was also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court in 1968.
Martha was also associated with J Mercer Burrell of Newark, and practiced in Montclair and Jersey City.
Martha was a member of the NAACP, National Council of Negro Women and League of Women Voters. She had several other jobs in Newark including substitute teaching for the Newark schools, inspector for the Newark United States Signals Corps, and clerk in the Newark Post Office.
Martha was the sister of Josephine Janifer.
Bibliography
A History of Remarkable Women Rutgers
“Jersey Gets Two Portias To Plead Your Case” Afro American Nov 19, 1949
Scarlet and Black: Vol 3
“Another First For Montclair” Montclair Times Nov 17, 1949
“Noted Lawyer Dies, 45” Montclair Times Jun 5, 1969
“First Negro Women Pass Bar Test” Newark News Nov 10, 1949
“Mrs. Williams Dies, Pioneer Lawyer” Newark News Jun 4, 1969
“They Made Notable Contributions” Montclair Times Dec 30, 1969