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The U.S. Senate has CONFIRMED President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court! More inside…
It’s official! We just witnessed HERstory!
The U.S. Senate just confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court with a historic vote, 53-47, that makes her the first Black female justice EVER and the Supreme Court’s 116th justice to sit on the bench. It's the first time two Black Supreme Court justices and the first time there have been four women justices.
Three Republican Senators Susan Collins (Maine), Mitt Romney (Utah) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joined Democrats and two independents in voting Judge Jackson into the nation’s highest court.
Vice President Kamala Harris - who is the nation’s first Black and first Asian American VP - presided over the historic vote where she was met with applause after confirming Judge Jackson. Watch the moment she read the confirmation above.
The 51-year-old U.S. appeals court judge was nominated to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer, for whom she clerked. The 83-year-old judge - who is considered to be the most senior jurist in the court’s three-member liberal wing - announced in January he has plans to retire this Summer.
The American Bar Association, which evaluates judicial nominees, gave Judge Jackson its highest rating, “well qualified.” And multiple elite organizations as well as hundreds of black deans of law schools, judges and lawyers, signed letters to Congress confirming her pristine qualifications and urged Senate to confirm her expeditiously.
“I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building — equal justice under law — are a reality and not just an ideal,” she said during her confirmation hearing.
”I decide cases from a neutral posture," she continued. "I evaluate the facts and I interpret and apply the law to the facts of the case before me without fear or favor, consistent with my judicial oath. I know that my role as a judge is a limited one, that the Constitution empowers me only to decide cases and controversies that are properly presented, and I know that my judicial role is further constrained by careful adherence to precedent."
Judge Jackson faced numerous, unnecessary attacks from Republicans during her confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month. It was disgusting. However, she powered through and was the epitome of class and dignity.
Judge Jackson is the first justice in decades with any significant experience representing criminal defendants. The last justice with any real experience as a defense lawyer in criminal cases was Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Judge Jackson watched watched the vote unfold with President Biden at the White House.
Judge Jackson’s confirmation was a historic moment for our nation. We’ve taken another step toward making our highest court reflect the diversity of America. She will be an incredible Justice, and I was honored to share this moment with her. pic.twitter.com/K8SAh25NL5
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 7, 2022
"Judge Jackson’s confirmation was a historic moment for our nation," POTUS tweeted alongside a picture of himself snapping a selfie with the new SCOTUS. "We’ve taken another step toward making our highest court reflect the diversity of America. She will be an incredible Justice, and I was honored to share this moment with her."
FLOTUS Jill Biden also expressed her excitement after Judge Jackson was confirmed to the Supreme Court bench:
Forever president BarackObama and Forever First Lady MichelleObama posted congratulatory messages on social media:
Congratulations to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for her appointment to the Supreme Court. This is a great day for America, and a proud moment in our history. pic.twitter.com/q4C9dtKAqb
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 7, 2022
"Congratulations to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for her appointment to the Supreme Court," POTUS tweeted. "This is a great day for America, and a proud moment in our history."
I was so moved to see Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed this afternoon. Like so many of you, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride—a sense of joy—to know that this deserving, accomplished Black woman will be a part of the highest court in the land. pic.twitter.com/hnPcDuPt8w
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 7, 2022
"I was so moved to see Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed this afternoon," FLOTUS tweeted. "Like so many of you, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride—a sense of joy—to know that this deserving, accomplished Black woman will be a part of the highest court in the land."
Representation matters! And before the naysayers walk in acting like "black woman" equates "lesser than" (even though we ALL know it actually means we're probably overqualified), she’s certainly qualified to hold down the position.
”President Biden sought a candidate with exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law," the White House said in a statement. “Judge Jackson is an exceptionally qualified nominee as well as an historic nominee, and the Senate should move forward with a fair and timely hearing and confirmation."
Judge Jackson checks off all the boxes, PLUS more, and we stan.
MAJOR CONGRATS!!!
Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin/Susan Walsh
