Madison Kwiecinski 

News Editor 

Mvk5945@psu.edu 

On Friday, February 25 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman nominated to serve on the United State’s highest court. Jackson was previously a federal appeals court Judge and is now selected to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. 

When introducing Jackson at the White House, Biden stated, “I believe it’s time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation.” 

Biden had mentioned several times throughout the course of his campaign that he planned to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, which has inspired some contentious statements regarding whether race, even for the benefit of diversity, should be a factor when choosing someone for our nation’s highest court.  However, Jackson’s nomination is a historic step that was likely long past due, as the Supreme Court was made entirely of white men for nearly two centuries. Jacksons nomination diversifies a court that, at one point in history, endorsed U.S. segregation and found her race unworthy of citizenship and voting rights. Her nomination comes exactly two years after Biden promised to nominate the first Black woman to the Court in a presidential debate in South Carolina, a promise it looks like he will fulfill. 

Jackson is not only the first Black woman to sit on the court but is the first former public defender as well. She possesses the same in depth legal background held by nearly every other member who has served on the court, while holding additional experience helping the public as well. 

Jackson is the current court’s second Black member, and only the third one in history. Clarence Thomas, one of the court’s current conservative justices, is the other. Jackson will not change the court’s current 6-3 conservative majority, as she will be replacing Justice Stephen Beyers as he retires at age 83. 

Jackson is also only the sixth woman in history to serve on the Court, and will be one of three on the current court. Jackson will serve on the court with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was the first ever Latina member of the Court. 

During Biden’s speech in which Jackson’s nomination was announced she spoke about her family history in the legal system and the historic nature of her nomination. Jackson pointed out that she shares a birthday with Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to ever be confirmed to the federal bench. Jackson has a family history of judges and lawyers, with one of her uncles even serving as Miami;s Chief of Police. 

“If I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans,” said Jackson. 

Jackson’s nomination is currently still awaiting confirmation of the senate, which is currently a 50-50 majority with Vice President Kamala Harris weighing in as the tie breaker. 

The nomination has been sent to the Senate, and now the Senate Judiciary Committee must vet Jackson and hold confirmation hearings. After the committee has approved her nomination, it will be sent to the Senate floor for a final vote. 

Jackson was approved to the Appeals Court last year, but only received three republican votes at the time of her nomination. Democrats, as well as President Biden, seem hopeful for a bipartisan vote on the nomination, but it is still unclear whether or not that will occur. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Jackson three Republican votes in her previous confirmation, expressed disappointment in the nomination through a tweet claiming Biden went with a “radical left” choice for his nominee, a line that will likely be used by many GOP Senators in the coming weeks. 

Chuck Shumer, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader, said, “With her exceptional qualifications and record of evenhandedness, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be a justice who will uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of all Americans, including the voiceless and vulnerable.”

Biden’s nomination of Judge Katanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a historic step in diversifying the highest court in the American legal system. Upon her hopeful confirmation, Jackson will become the 116th Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, making history.