On June 21, 1979, Judge Amalya Kearse became the first African-American woman appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter. Judge Kearse assumed senior status in 2002. Amalya Kearse received her undergraduate degree form Wellesley College and her law degree from the University of Michigan. During her distinguished law school career, Kearse served as the Law Review Editor in charge of articles, comments and notes in the areas of Commercial Law, Property Law and Civil Procedure.

As a result, she received the Jason L. Honigman Award for outstanding contribution to the Law Review Student Editorial Board. Additionally, she was the Freshman Class Moot Court Competition Winner. Kearse also served as a research assistant to Professors John W. Reed, Samuel D. Estep and Alan N. Polasky.

Upon graduation from law school, Kearse began her professional career in the private practice of law as an associate at Hughes Hubbard & Reed. At Hughes, she engaged in general corporate litigation in matters involving antitrust, banking, real estate, securities, copyright, contract, commercial, trust, administrative, criminal and constitutional law issues. In 1969, she became the first African-American and the first woman partner at the firm, practicing there until she was appointed to the Second Circuit in 1979.