Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to an institution that has historically been dominated by white men—and, more often than not, served them above everyone else—is more than welcome news. It’s a watershed moment for our courts and our country. (Read More Here).
For women, for Black people, and especially for Black women, this representation is necessary and long overdue. That a descendant of people who were enslaved will occupy one of the nine most important seats in a building built by people who were enslaved is both crushing and long overdue, too.
We’re overjoyed by this pick not just because of what Judge Jackson represents but because of who she is: a brilliant legal mind, a jurist with a proven record of protecting the rights of the most vulnerable, and, critically, a public defender by training, the first ever to rise to the Supreme Court.
We look forward to seeing her receive a swift confirmation process.
Joe Biden wrote:
“I’m proud to announce that I am nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court. Currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, she is one of our nation’s brightest legal minds and will be an exceptional Justice.”
President Obama wrote:
“I want to congratulate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on her nomination to the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson has already inspired young Black women like my daughters to set their sights higher, and her confirmation will help them believe they can be anything they want to be.
As a protégé of Justice Breyer, Judge Jackson earned a reputation for pragmatism and consensus building. It’s part of why I nominated her twice – first as a district judge, and then to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, where she earned praise from both Democrats and Republicans.
“Like Justice Breyer, Judge Jackson understands that the law isn’t just about abstract theory. It’s about people’s lives. President Joe Biden has made an excellent choice, and I look forward to seeing Judge Jackson confirmed.”
