It’s official: President Joe Biden has made his selection for the next justice to serve on the Supreme Court. The news comes nearly one month after liberal Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement from the highest court in the land. One of President Biden’s many campaign promises included nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court if the opportunity presented itself. Today, the country got one step closer to a historic appointment, as President Biden announced his Supreme Court Justice nominee: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“I’m proud to announce that I am nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court,” President Biden’s February 25 statement read. “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.”
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.https://t.co/iePvhz1YaApic.twitter.com/Nzqv2AtN8h
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 25, 2022
So, who is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson? We’ll give you a quick rundown on some facts, notable accomplishments, and more about the Supreme Court Justice nominee.
Ketanji Brown Jackson Has Built a Career in Public Service
Public service runs deep in Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s family. During her 2021 confirmation to the appellate court in D.C., she spoke about her family’s history of serving the community. “I come from a background of public service. My parents were in public service, my brother was a police officer and (was) in the military,” she said during her remarks, per CNN. “And being in the public defenders’ office felt very much like the opportunity to help with my skills and talents.” Jackson has served as a judge and a public defender throughout her career.
Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Appointment to the Supreme Court Would Make History
As previously mentioned, Judge Jackson’s nomination is one step towards making history. If confirmed, she will become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Just to put things in perspective, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court was Sandra Day O’Connor, who was sworn in September 1981 and served on the Supreme Court until her retirement in January 2006.
Since that time, four women have served on the Supreme Court compared to 110 men — Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It’s a staggering statistic, and the fact that Judge Jackson could become the first Black woman to ascend to the highest court in the land, if her appointment is confirmed, says even more about the progress we still have yet to make.
Ketanji Brown Jackson Served on the Appellate Court
In March 2021, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for the seat vacated by Merrick Garland, the current attorney general. This means Judge Jackson will have served in her current position for roughly one year before her potential appointment to the Supreme Court. But she has a lengthy résumé of accomplishments before this last appointment.
According to CNN, Judge Jackson wrote roughly 500 opinions during her eight years on the district court. Some of her notable cases included blocking certain Trump executive orders that would limit non-U.S. citizens’ ability to appear before a judge prior to their expedited removal from the country.
Ketanji Brown Jackson is a D.C. Native, But Grew Up in Another U.S. City
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was born in September 1970. Her family moved to Miami, FL., where she grew up and graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School. She then attended Harvard University, where she earned both her undergraduate and law degrees.
Ketanji Brown Jackson is Married with Two Kids
In 1996, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson married Patrick G. Jackson after the two met at Harvard. The couple have two daughters together — Talia and Leila.
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