Ketanji Brown Jackson Becomes First Black Woman Supreme Court Justice

Jun 30, 2022
Ketanji Brown Jackson Becomes First Black Woman Supreme Court Justice

[ad_1]

WASHINGTON — Ketanji Brown Jackson took the judicial oath simply after midday on Thursday, changing into the primary Black girl to serve on the Supreme Courtroom.

Justice Jackson, 51, was confirmed in April, when the Senate voted 53 to 47 on her nomination. She is going to substitute Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who’s stepping down with the conclusion of the court docket’s present time period.

Justice Jackson took each a constitutional oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, and a judicial oath, administered by Justice Breyer. The temporary swearing in ceremony came about within the West Convention Room on the Supreme Courtroom, earlier than a small gathering of Choose Jackson’s household. Her husband, Patrick G. Jackson, held the Bible.

“I’m happy to welcome Justice Jackson to the court docket and to our frequent calling,” Justice Roberts stated and shook her hand. Justice Roberts stated there could be a proper investiture within the fall, however the oaths would “permit her to undertake her duties, and he or she’s been anxious to get to them with none additional delay.”

Justice Jackson made no assertion.

Her rise to the court docket won’t change it’s ideological steadiness — the newly expanded conservative majority will retain its 6-to-3 majority.

It comes at a time of deep polarization in regards to the court docket, particularly within the wake of its ruling putting down Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional proper to abortion, and at a time when the court docket has proven in latest rulings that it’s deeply skeptical of the ability of administrative businesses to handle main points going through the nation.

Nonetheless, the Biden administration and Choose Jackson have underscored the historic import of her elevation to the nation’s highest court docket.

“It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black girl to be chosen to serve on the Supreme Courtroom of america,” Choose Jackson stated in April at a White Home celebration following her affirmation. “However we’ve made it. We’ve made it. All of us.”

Justice Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Miami. She graduated from Harvard School and Harvard Legislation College, Justice Breyer’s alma mater, and clerked for him through the 1999-2000 Supreme Courtroom time period.

President Biden, throughout his 2020 marketing campaign, promised that if elected he would appoint a Black girl to the Supreme Courtroom.

[ad_2]