Ketanji Brown, the 116th Supreme Court justice, has been sworn in as the first Black woman to sit on the high court.
This ceremony concludes a long process that began in February when President Biden announced Jackson, 51 as his choice to replace Justice Stephen Breyer (83), fulfilling a campaign promise. Breyer, aEUR”, for whom Jackson worked as a clerk after graduating from Harvard Law School 1996, officially retired Thursday, opening the way for Jackson to be sworn into office.
Biden stated that “for too long, our government and our courts haven’t looked like America” when he nominated her. “And I believe that it’s high time we have a court that reflects all the talents and greatness in our country with a nominee with extraordinary qualifications, and that inspires young people to believe they can serve their country at its highest level.”
Jackson took two oaths at the noon ceremony of the Supreme Court: Chief Justice John Roberts administered a Constitutional Oath and Breyer administered a Judicial Oath. In fall, Jackson will be formalized.
Jackson will be faced with significant cases in the next term, including affirmative action (which Jackson may withdraw from), independent legislature theory and religious freedom.
Jackson was confirmed by the Senate in April after it voted 53-47 for her nomination.
“It took 232 years and 115 appointments for a Black woman in the United States to be elected to the Supreme Court of the United States. But we made it!” Jackson spoke at a White House event on the day following the Senate vote.
Jackson said, “I have dedicated myself to public service because i love this country and our Constitution as well as the rights that make it free,” Jackson added.
All 50 Senate Democrats, which includes the two independents as well as three Republicans aEUR’ Sens. Jackson’s confirmation was supported by Mitt Romney, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska aEUR”. Although the vote was called a “historic moment”, Democrats praised it as an “historic moment”, though there were clashes between parties about Jackson’s previous judicial decisions.
Jackson was a federal trial judge for eight years and issued over 500 opinions. He was also nominated by Biden to be confirmed last June for a seat on U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia.
Jackson is the Supreme Court justice who represents indigent criminal defendants since Thurgood Marshall. She was also vice chair of U.S. Sentencing Commission, where her reputation was built on creating consensus among the members.
Roberts and Breyer sworn Jackson in. Jackson’s left handed rested on two stackable bibles that her husband, Dr. Patrick Jackson, held. The first was a family Bible, while the second was donated by Justice John Marshall Harlan to the Supreme Court. It is known as the Harlan Bible.
Harlan, who was known as the Great Dissident during his 34-year tenure, was the only justice not to vote in 1896 in Plessy V. Ferguson. This case upheld the constitutionality and equality of racial segregation in the “separate, but equal” doctrine.
