On February 25, President Joe Biden announced his nomination for the opening position on the Supreme Court: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson knew at a young age that she was meant to follow a path towards law– she was quoted in her high school yearbook saying “I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment.” Judge Brown Jackson is the daughter of two public school teachers and administrators in Washington DC, but grew up in Florida. After graduating from high school in Florida she went on to graduate from Harvard, where she earned both her undergraduate degree and law degree.
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Judge Brown Jackson was a clerk for Justice Beyer, (whose retirement will lead to the open seat in which Judge Brown Jackson is nominated for) before becoming a federal public defender. She was also a commissioner on the US Sentencing Commission and served on the Federal District Court in Washington DC. Her experience as a federal public defender and Federal District Court gives her different perspectives on the justice system and makes her an excellent nominee for Supreme Court Justice.
If confirmed, Judge Brown Jackson would be the first African American woman in the Supreme Court. For centuries the Supreme Court has been filled by white men: of the 115 justices that served on the bench 108 have been white men. This is a glass ceiling that should have been shattered years ago. During Judge Brown Jackson’s nomination Biden stated “For too long, our government, our courts haven’t looked like America, I believe it’s time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of extraordinary qualifications, and that we inspire all young people to believe that they can one day serve their country at the highest level.”
Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson is known to be fair, intelligent and has all of the credentials necessary to be a successful Supreme Court Justice. She is the embodiment of the American Dream and an inspiration to young women everywhere. Judge Brown Jackson would bring to the table a strong moral compass, a deep understanding of the struggles minorities face on a daily basis, a long list of credentials, and the passion for justice.
