Who was the first African-American federal judge?

The first black federal judge was Robert Herberton Terrell. He was a former slave who graduated at Harvard College magma cum laude in 1884 and later earned his bachelor and master's degree in law from Howard University.

He was appointed a justice of the peace for the District of Columbia by Theodore Roosevelt in December 1901 after being put forward for recommendation by Booker T Washington. On January 15th 1910 President Taft nominated Terrell for the District of Columbia Municipal Court. The Senate appointed him despite protests and he served with distinction under Presidents Taft, Wilson, Harding and Coolidge. He died December 20th 1925.