Justice Thurgood Marshall Lecture Inspires Baltimore with Message on “Losing Well”

Baltimore’s Division Street was alive with energy Monday evening as more than 150 community leaders, legal scholars, and advocates gathered at the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center for the city’s second annual Justice Thurgood Marshall Lecture. The atmosphere was reverent yet hopeful, honoring one of Baltimore’s own—Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court, whose voice for equality and fairness still resonates across generations.

Marshall, born in Baltimore in 1908, built his reputation as a brilliant lawyer and tireless advocate for civil rights through his work with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. His successful argument in Brown v. Board of Education struck down the doctrine of “separate but equal,” reshaping the nation’s future. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1967, he became a towering figure in American law whose commitment to justice remains a guiding force.

The lecture took place in the Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center, a restored landmark in West Baltimore. Once a community school, the building has been reimagined as a gathering place for education, civic dialogue, and cultural memory—a living tribute to Marshall’s enduring influence on the city.

The evening’s keynote was delivered by Elizabeth Prelogar, former U.S. Solicitor General from 2021 to 2025 and now Partner and Chair of the Supreme Court and Appellate Practice at Cooley LLP. Prelogar, only the second woman in history to hold the nation’s top appellate role, spoke on the theme of “Losing Well.” She described how Marshall often emphasized the importance of cases that might not win in the moment but laid the groundwork for future victories. Reflecting on her own career before the nation’s highest court, she acknowledged the lessons she has drawn from setbacks as well as triumphs. Her words, both candid and inspiring, brought the audience to its feet in a standing ovation.

“The lecture was perfect for this moment, this time that we’re in,” said Mary J. Miller, chair of the organizing committee. “It was inspiring – a lesson on doing well.” Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway, Sr., who welcomed attendees at the start of the evening, added afterward, “The Justice Thurgood Marshall Lecture inspires, informs, and empowers. Elizabeth Prelogar’s keynote address was clean and concise, an analysis of where the Court is today, and what we have to do to win.”

The program also included remarks from retired U.S. Circuit Judge Andre M. Davis on the purpose of the lecture series and an introduction of the keynote speaker by Sherrilyn Ifill, Distinguished Professor of Civil Rights at Howard University School of Law.

By the end of the evening, it was clear that the lecture had become more than an academic exercise. For many in attendance, it was a reminder of Marshall’s legacy, a call to remain steadfast even in moments of defeat, and an affirmation that the work of justice continues. In the halls of the Amenity Center, where history and renewal meet, Baltimore found both remembrance and resolve to carry forward Marshall’s charge—to fight, to endure, and to keep faith in the victories still to come.