Ketanji Brown Jackson Becomes First Black Woman Nominated for Supreme Court Justice

Keeping true to his word to nominate a black woman, President Biden has revealed his choice for the newest justice to the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson.

The White House managed to keep the conversation between Jackson and President Biden earlier this month private. Jackson accepted the position Thursday evening and will need to be confirmed by the Senate before she officially takes her place on the bench.

Jackson was appointed as a U.S. Circuit judge for the District of Columbia by then-president Barack Obama in 2012. She is also related to former House Speaker Paul Ryan by marriage — they share a brother and sister-in-law, according to Ryan.

Ryan said of Jackson at her December 2012 nomination hearing:

“Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanji’s intellect, for her character, for her integrity, it is unequivocal. She’s an amazing person, and I favorably recommend her consideration.”

It appears his opinion hasn’t changed as he made a nearly identical comment again this morning, 10 years later.

Jackson also clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer and served as a federal public defender in Washington. She was a commissioner on the US Sentencing Commission and was elevated to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in April of last year.

Ironically, Jackson was considered by Obama for the same position almost 6 years to the day. Obama instead nominated Merrick Garland but a vote was never taken. Eventually, the position was filled by Amy Coney Barrett at the nomination of President Donald Trump.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that he wants the process to move quickly, intending to confirm the nominee by April 11.

Criticism has arisen surrounding the timing and the motive of the nomination announcement as it came the very next day after Russia declared war on Ukraine.

2 comments
  1. She is not the first Black woman to be recommended for Supreme Court Janice Rogers Brown by the second President Bush. Then a Senator Biden voted against her and the Democrat Party using the Filibuster blocked denied her Appointment to the Court

Join The Discussion

Related Posts
Total
1
Share